Data indicates that of the main racial/ethnic groups in Arkansas, Hispanics have the lowest level of smokers at 11.5% (2022), compared to 19.9% for Blacks and 18.6% for Whites.

Tobacco use is the most preventable cause of death in Arkansas.  It is a leading cause of short life expectancy in the state and is a major contributor to chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, and stroke.  In addition to this human toll, smoking is estimated to result in $1.3 billion a year in medical treatment and $1.7 billion in lost productivity. While the percentage of adults who say they are smokers has gradually decreased in the last decade, the 2022 rate of 19.3% is considerably higher than the rate for the U.S. as a whole (14.0%).