Kentucky
A State-by-State Look at the 1998 Tobacco Settlement 27 Years Later
| FY2026 | FY2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| State Ranking | 38 | 35 |
| State Spending on Tobacco Prevention | $4.2 million | $4.7 million |
|
Percent of CDC Recommended Spending
($56.4 million) |
7.5% | 8.4% |
Kentucky's Tobacco Revenue, CDC Recommended Spending, State Spending and Tobacco Industry Marketing
Trend in Spending Kentucky Tobacco Prevention
| Tobacco's Toll in Kentucky (as of Dec. 15, 2025) | |
|---|---|
| Adults who smoke | 17.2% (617,400) |
| High school students who smoke | 5.3% (12,800) |
| High school students who use e-cigarettes | 19.7% |
| Deaths caused by smoking each year | 8,900 |
| Annual health care costs directly caused by smoking | $2.23 billion |
| Proportion of cancer deaths attributable to smoking | 37.2% |
| Residents' state & federal tax burden from smoking-caused government expenditures | $1,406 per household |
| Estimated annual tobacco industry marketing in state | $251.0 million |
Last updated Dec. 15, 2025