New findings from the Arkansas Health Survey, the largest and most comprehensive health survey in the state’s history, reveal that 24.1% of Arkansas adults who used tobacco was well above the national average of 18%, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control.
“Tobacco use remains one of the most urgent public health challenges facing Arkansas,” said Michael Niño, University of Arkansas associate professor of sociology and criminology, who led the survey.
Use of tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Arkansas and throughout the United States. It is linked with chronic conditions such as stroke, cancer, heart disease and respiratory illness. Each year, tobacco use costs the state’s public and private health care system more than $1 billion, according to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement.
The Arkansas Health Survey, based on nearly 10,000 responses, paints a detailed picture of the state’s physical and mental health. Researchers and public health officials can see the prevalence of more than 30 different indicators, which also include obesity, alcohol abuse and depression, in each of the state’s 832 census tracts.
Arkansas is only the second state, following California, to conduct an in-depth health survey to capture community-level insights.
“These data show us not only the overall burden, but also where that burden is most concentrated,” said Ben Amick, co-principal investigator and associate dean for research at UAMS.
In the case of tobacco, the Arkansas Health Survey reveals high rates of usage in places that would have been overlooked by other, broader studies. For example, 12 counties had rates of tobacco use in the last 30 days that exceed 28%. By zooming into the neighborhood-level, the survey shows 166 census tracts with similarly elevated rates. Many of these high-prevalence neighborhoods are outside those counties with the highest rates of tobacco use.
“Accurate data is absolutely critical in targeting interventions,” said Craig Wilson, president and CEO of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement.
The Arkansas Health Survey provides a foundation for building healthier communities. The findings will help policymakers, clinicians and community organizations tailor prevention and education campaigns to local populations. Annual updates of the survey will let state and community leaders evaluate progress over time.
In the coming months, Niño and his team will issue additional reports from the Arkansas Health Survey. In early 2026, interactive maps from the survey will be available online through the AR-COMPASS dashboard.
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