Where you reside may impact exposure to vaping. A new analysis from Forbes Advisor compared e-cigarette usage metrics across all 50 states, revealing significant variances - with Southern regions showing the most vapers while coastal areas demonstrate far less prevalence.

Methodology Factors for Ranking States’ Vaping Rates

The study incorporated three key usage factors into state comparison scoring:

• Percentage of adults vaping daily - comprising 50% of total score
• Percentage vaping on some days - 25% weighting
• E-cigarette adoption growth since 2016 - 25% of score

These criteria focus on regular ongoing usage rather than isolated experimentation. Geographic trends emerged from calculated rankings.

Southern States Lead Country for Most Adult Vapers

According to analysis findings using scoring criteria, Southern states substantially overindex the rest of the nation regarding residents frequently using e-cigarettes or vape pens:

• 7 of the top 10 highest vaping states situate in classic Southern regions
• Tennessee ranked #1 followed by Kentucky and Oklahoma

Conversely, coastal states New England and Middle Atlantic comprised 7 of the bottom 10 vaping locales - suggesting geographic lifestyle differences may impact adoption.

Maryland Ranks Last for E-Cigarette Consumption

Of all states, Maryland demonstrates the lowest incidence of adult vaping based on evaluated metrics:

-Scored absolute bottom at 0.0-2.5% vape occasionally - lowest nationally-2.1% daily usage ties Illinois for least regular vapers

Rounding out the bottom 10 vaping states skewed heavily East Coast anchored by low rates in Maryland, Illinois and Connecticut.

Young Adults Report Highest Vaping Levels

While specific vaping frequencies shift by state, particular demographic attributes correlate to usage nationally:

• Adults below age 25 most likely to vape
• 11% of 18-24 reported e-cigarette usage
• Declines precipitously among older groups

Additionally, men and boys outpace women and girls regarding e-cigarette adoption across geography.

Cultural variances contributing to disparate vaping incidence regionally combined with key age and gender trends warrant ongoing scrutiny by health authorities assessing methodology efficacy balancing adult smokers’ harm reduction against protecting youth.

Most States See Increased Vaping Restrictions

Seeking to curb rising youth usage, the vast majority of states now impose expanded vaping access limitations, including:

• 33 mandate e-cigarette taxes
• 37 states require vape retail licenses
• 32 enforce packaging safety measures

But regulation severity fluctuates widely from region to region. For example:

• Indiana enacted 12 vaping youth access restrictions - most nationally
• Arizona & Nevada tie for least at only 2 rules each

As vaping intersects innovation, ideology and health, balanced policy making demands nuance guiding progress.