2021’s Most Sinful States in America

When you think of sinful states in the nation, which states come most quickly to mind? Red states and blue states may like to point to one another as the source of all that is wrong with the U.S., but the truth is that each of the 50 states has its own virtues and vices. For example, Missouri has the worst drug use problem. And it certainly comes as no surprise that Nevada is the most gambling-addicted.

Every state has virtues and vices, and vices are especially hard to conquer during the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic. Harmful behavior on the individual level can result in staggering economic costs, considering that gambling addiction costs the U.S. $5 billion per year and smoking costs dwarf that with over $300 billion per year.

But the cost of state sins is something we have to share as a nation. Gambling alone costs the U.S. about $5 billion per year. That’s nothing compared to the amount of money we lose from smoking, though – over $300 billion per year, according to Adam McCann of WalletHub. Harmful behavior on the individual level can add up to staggering economic costs on a national scale. While many people want to quit their vices, it’s a difficult road even under normal circumstances, so the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic make abstaining all the harder.

In light of these statistics, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2021’s Most Sinful States. To determine where the U.S. has the most moral growing to do, WalletHub compared the 50 states based on seven sinful behaviors: anger and hatred, jealousy, excesses and vices, greed, lust, vanity and laziness.

Here are some highlights from the report:

Sinfulness of California (1=Most Sinful; 25=Avg.):

  • 12th – Anger & Hatred
  • 7th – Jealousy
  • 21st – Greed
  • 2nd – Lust
  • 2nd – Vanity

For the full report, click here. 

 

Image Sources

  • Las Vegas: Pixaby