Teen smoking: 12 states with highest rates

For decades health experts have been hammering into kids the dangers of smoking - but it's not necessarily working. A new report from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows heavy smoking is down among teen smokers nationwide, but casual smoking rates are on the rise.

"The fact that one in five high school students are still involved with tobacco products means there's a great risk of becoming more frequent smokers," Dr. Terry Pechachek, associate director for science for the CDC's office on smoking and health, told CBS News.

But the teens on this list are the heaviest users among teen smokers - they smoke at least 10 cigarettes a day. In 2009 the CDC surveyed schools to see how often teens smoked, and 45 states responded. The data might not be complete as some states skipped out, but these 12 have a hefty number of heavy-smoking high schoolers. Keep clicking to find out if your state's teen smokers are heavy users...

12. Colorado

Colorado kicks off the list of states with cigarette-loving teens. Smoking can't be good for folks living in high-altitude Denver.

Percentage of heavy-smoking teens: 10.7

11. Arkansas

The state that brought us Bill Clinton and Walmart is also bringing up a young generation of chain smokers.

Percentage of heavy-smoking teens: 10.9

10. Missouri

Missouri has the lowest tax on cigarettes in the country, only 17 cents per pack according to the Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids. To give an idea of how low that is, the national average is about $1.46 -would higher taxes deter teen smoking?

Percentage of heavy-smoking teens: 11.0

9. Tennessee

The state is known for Memphis' Beale Street, considered by many to be the birthplace of blues music. Young Tennesseans will be singing the blues if they realized the heart disease and cancer risks their habit was causing.

Percentage of heavy-smoking teens: 11.4

8. Illinois

One of Chicago's most famous former residents, President Barack Obama recently quit smoking. Can he inspire the state's smoking teens?

Percentage of heavy-smoking teens: 12.2

7. West Virginia

High school-aged residents might get black lung from cigarettes - even if they stay clear of the mines in this coal-producing state.

Percentage of heavy-smoking teens: 12.9

6. New York

New York would have been no. 2 on this list if New York City was excluded - 8.2 percent of the Big Apple's teens are heavy smokers. For about 12 bucks a pack, it's no surprise the big city was below its state's average.

Percentage of heavy-smoking teens: 13.3

5. Wyoming

Wyoming is known for steamy geysers in Yellowstone National Park - unless that's a smoke cloud coming from the state's teen smokers. For the state with the smallest population, a 13 percent heavy smoking rate among teens is a big number.

Percentage of heavy-smoking teens: 13.4*(slightly lower than #4 Vermont)

4. Vermont

Cigarette-puffing young Vermonters must not be skiers - they'd run out of breath too fast with their chain-smoking habits.

Percentage of heavy-smoking teens: 13.4*(slightly higher than #5 Wyoming)

3. Delaware

The "First State" is only third on the high school-aged heavy smoker list.

Percentage of heavy-smoking teens: 13.7

2. Kentucky

Kentucky is known for its tobacco production - looks like Kentucky's high school students are well aware.

Percentage of heavy-smoking teens: 14.2

1. Maine

Tsk tsk Maine high schoolers...Your state has 3 percent more young, heavy-smokers than the next one on the list. Why are so many of Maine's students smoking?

Percentage of heavy-smoking teens: 17.6