UTAH, KENTUCKY ARE 2 EXTREMES ON TOBACCO USE

Kentucky again leads the pack when it comes to smoking, with nearly one in
three adults lighting up in 1997, the government reported Thursday. The
lowest rate was in Utah, where the Mormon stand against tobacco has kept
smoking down to about one in seven adults. Overall, the report by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed little change in smoking
habits over the past few years.

The 1997 smoking rate in Kentucky -- a leading tobacco-producing state that
has led the list since 1995 -- was 30.8 percent. Next were Missouri (28.7
percent), Arkansas (28.5 percent) and Nevada (27.7 percent). Utah's rate
was 13.7 percent. Above it on the list were California (18.4 percent),
Hawaii (18.6 percent) and the District of Columbia (18.8 percent).

The agency estimated that 23 percent of adults nationwide smoke. The survey
also found that states sold an average of 90 packs of cigarettes per person
per year. Kentucky also led that list, with 186.8 packs sold per person.
Hawaii sold the fewest, 49.1 packs. Dr. Gary Giovino, chief epidemiologist
for the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health, said smoking had declined
slightly each year during the early 1990s, but seemed to have leveled off
during the past few years.

From Mercury News wire services