Tobacco use in South Dakota 2023

• In 2022, 14.0% of adults smoked. Nationally, adult smoking prevalence was 14.0%.¹
• In 2021, 5.5% of high school students in South Dakota smoked cigarettes on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, smoking prevalence among high school students was 3.8%.²

• In 2022, 6.7% of adults in South Dakota used e-cigarettes. Nationally, adult e-cigarette use prevalence was 7.7%.¹
• In 2022, 4.9% of adults in South Dakota used smokeless tobacco every day or some days. Nationally, adult smokeless tobacco use prevalence was 3.4%.¹
• In 2021, 15.8% of high school students in South Dakota used electronic vapor products on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the e-cigarette use prevalence among high school students was 18%.²
• In 2021, 2.8% of high school students in South Dakota used chewing tobacco, snuff or dip on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the smokeless tobacco use prevalence among high school students was 2.5%.²
• In 2021, 2.1% of high school students in South Dakota smoked cigars, cigarillos or little cigars on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the cigar use prevalence among high school students was 3.1%²

• South Dakota received $81.6 million (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2023.⁴
• Of this, the state allocated $4.5 million in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2023, 38.5% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s annual spending target.⁴
• Smoking-caused health care costs: $433 million per year.⁴
• Smoking-caused losses in productivity: $838.6 million per year.⁵

Tobacco taxes

• South Dakota is ranked 30th in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of $1.53 per pack (enacted January 2007), compared to the national average of $1.93. (New York has the highest tax at $5.35 and Missouri has the lowest at 17 cents.)^6-8
• All other tobacco products are taxed at 35% of the wholesale price.^6,7

Clean indoor air ordinances

• Smoking is prohibited in government workplaces, private workplaces, schools, childcare facilities, restaurants, bars (smoking of certain tobacco products allowed in certain bars), casinos/gaming establishments (tribal establishments exempt), retail stores and recreational/cultural facilities.^6,7
• E-cigarettes are included in the state’s definition of smoking.⁹

Licensing laws

• Wholesalers are required to obtain a license to sell tobacco products. Retailers are not required to obtain a license to sell tobacco products.⁶
• A license is not required to sell e-cigarette products.⁹

Youth access laws

• In December 2019, the United States adopted a law raising the federal minimum age of sale of all tobacco products to 21, effective immediately.
• Minors are prohibited from buying e-cigarettes.⁶
• It is prohibited to distribute free vapor products within 500 feet of a school, playground, or other facility primarily used by minors.⁹
• Self-service displays of vapor products are restricted to specialty stores or vending machines inaccessible to minors.⁹

• The CDC estimates 39.8% of daily adult smokers in South Dakota quit smoking for one or more days in 2019.³
• In 2014, the Affordable Care Act required that Medicaid programs cover all tobacco cessation medications. However, there is not enough evidence that the South Dakota Medicaid program has complied with this requirement regarding NRT gum, NRT patch, NRT nasal spray, NRT lozenge, and NRT inhaler.^7**
• South Dakota’s state quit line invests $18.32 per smoker, compared to the national median of $2.37.⁷
• South Dakota does not have a private insurance mandate provision for cessation.⁷

Updated June 2023

*The datasets for both adults and youth prevalence were used to make direct comparisons at the state and national levels. National prevalence reported here may differ from what is reported in our national-level fact sheets. The numbers here also reflect the most recent data available. Dates of available data may differ across state fact sheets.

**The seven recommended cessation medications are NRT gum, NRT patch, NRT nasal spray, NRT inhaler, NRT lozenge, Varenicline (Chantix) and Bupropion (Zyban).

Fiore MC, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update. Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service: May 2008.

1.         CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2023.

2.         CDC, Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System, 2021.

3.         CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation System, 2023.

4.         Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Broken Promises to Our Children: a State-by-State Look at the 1998 State Tobacco Settlement 24 Years Later FY2023, 2023.

5.         Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Toll of Tobacco in the United States.

6.         American Lung Association, State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues (SLATI).

7.         American Lung Association, State of Tobacco Control, 2023.

8.         Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. State Cigarette Excise Tax Rates & Rankings. https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/assets/factsheets/0097.pdf. Accessed.

9.         Public Health Law Center. U.S. E-Cigarette Regulation: 50-State Review. http://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/resources/us-e-cigarette-regulations-50-state-review. Accessed