Study: Smokers costing IN billions in productivity

MUNCIE, Ind. (WANE) - Ball State University has released a new survey revealing details about smoking habits of Hoosiers.

The survey said 21.2 percent of Hoosiers admit to smoking a cigarette regularly, according to results from 2010 data, the most recent available.

The habit costs the State of Indiana nearly $2.6 billion in productivity losses and $2.2 billion in health care costs each year.

The survey said, on average, 9,700 deaths happen in Indiana each year are attributed to smoking. Smoking related deaths are the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States.

The BSU study also revealed the following:

23 percent of smokers are male, compared to 19 percent of females.

Persons over 65-years-old were in the smallest group of smokers, only eight percent. Adults aged 18-24 smoked at a rate of 21 percent. 24-44 years-old were the highest group, 26 percent. And 23 percent of persons aged 45-64 years smoke.

The study also found that smoking rates decreased as education and incomes levels increased.

When broke down by race, 21 percent of smokers are white, 30 percent are African-American, and 17 percent are Hispanic.

The study also said the smoking rate in Indiana has declined nearly eight percent since 2000. But, Indiana ranks 42nd worst in the U.S. for smoking percentages amongst the population.

Indiana's General Assembly passed a new statewide smoking ban in the most recent session. The ban starts July 1 and limits smoking inside some businesses and requires smokers to stand away from buildings at least eight feet.