Unemployed Americans Smoke the Most, Study Finds

More than 45 percent of unemployed Americans smoke cigarettes, compared to 28.4 percent of workers ages 18 to 64, according to new findings from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The Charlotte News-Observer reported Sept. 29 that the survey also looked at smoking rates in various industries: food-service and prep workers were most likely to smoke (44.7 percent), followed by construction workers (42.9 percent).

Smoking rates among workers were higher for 18- to 25-year-olds (40.1 percent) than those ages 26 to 34 (33.9 percent), 36 to 49 (26.7 percent), and 50 to 64 (20.7 percent).

Roughly 74,000 people were surveyed by SAMHSA researchers.