Tobacco usage in Northeast Indiana exceeds national average while US smoking rate hits historic low.
Northeast Indiana has higher tobacco usage rates than the national average, with 19.4% of adults smoking compared to 11% nationwide. The high school tobacco use rate is 22.9%, with 18.5% of Indiana teens vaping. The executive director of Tobacco Free Allen County is concerned about the usage rates, especially with vaping, and suggests raising the tobacco tax and getting rid of flavoring in e-cigarettes. The state of Indiana received over 130-million dollars last week from tobacco product manufacturers as part of an ongoing national settlement agreement.