The Ten States With The Most Vice (And The Most Virtue)

The Ten Most Vice-Ridden

10. California

> Binge Drinking Among Adults Per Month: 15.8% (23rd highest)
> Annual Sale Of Cigarette Packs Per Capita: 28.8 (4th lowest)
> Illicit Drug Use Per Month: 9% (12th highest)

California’s greatest vice is gambling. It ranks 3rd worst.  The state has 68 casinos, all of which are Native American-affiliated.  The state also ranks 40th for heavy drinking among adults, with 5.5% of those 18 and older imbibing.  California drops to 28th, however, when it comes to binge drinking.  Drug use is another, although less severe, issue for the state, ranking 39th.  California currently has some of the most lenient state laws in the country with regards to marijuana.  On the bright side, The Golden State ranks 2nd best in terms of smoking.  Only 12.9% of the adult population smokes cigarettes.

9. Delaware
> Binge Drinking Among Adults Per Month: 18.5% (6th highest)
> Annual Sale Of Cigarette Packs Per Capita: 122.8 (2nd highest)
> Illicit Drug Use Per Month: 9.04% (11th highest)

Delaware’s downfall is its abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs. The First State has the sixth highest rate of drug usage, with poor scores both in marijuana and hard drugs. This could be partly attributed to its proximity to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, D.C., all major drug distribution centers. The average Delaware adult also buys more than 122 packs of cigarettes each year, the second worst rate in the country. Finally, the state has the fourth worst score for combined heavy drinking and binge drinking. Delaware has one of the lowest rates of pornography subscribers in the country, behind only six others.

Click the Image for a Larger Graph of Binge Drinkers by State

From The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

8. Missouri

> Binge Drinking Among Adults Per Month: 17.2% (15th highest)
> Annual Sale Of Cigarette Packs Per Capita: 97.2 (5th highest)
> Illicit Drug Use Per Month: 7.22% (20th lowest)

While Missouri ranks near the national average for most vices, it has its weaknesses. The most notable of these is smoking – the state ranks 3rd worst in this category.  Among Missouri’s adult population, 23.1% smoke cigarettes.  The average number of packs an adult in Missouri buys per year is 97.2.  As of August 2010, the state had the lowest tax on cigarettes in the country.  Missouri also ranks 36th highest for binge drinking – 17.2% of adults drink too much.

7. Minnesota
> Binge Drinking Among Adults Per Month: 20.2% (3rd highest)
> Annual Sale Of Cigarette Packs Per Capita: 48.7 (18th lowest)
> Illicit Drug Use Per Month: 8.13% (23rd highest)

Minnesota ranks average in drug use and has few smokers. The state’s many casinos hurt its score, however, and it has one of the worst rates of binge drinking, ahead of only neighbors Wisconsin and North Dakota. While not part of our rankings, the North Star State had the third worst rate of driving under the influence.

6. Louisiana
> Binge Drinking Among Adults Per Month: 14.4% (19th lowest)
> Annual Sale Of Cigarette Packs Per Capita: 82.6 (8th highest)
> Illicit Drug Use Per Month: 7.01% (15th lowest)

Louisiana has a very high rate of in-state gambling and ranks 3rd worst in that category.  The state has a high number of casinos and 2,272 electronic gaming devices, less than only Oregon.  Louisiana also ranks 42nd highest for pornography, with an average of just over three subscribers per 1,000 broadband users.  Louisianans do the 7th most smoking in the country, with 22.1% of adults smoking cigarettes.  The average adult in the state purchases 82.6 packs of cigarettes per year.