UnitedHealth: Nevada Ranks 42nd in Health, Drug Use and Economic Hardship Blamed
Posted on: January 26, 2026, 01:32h.
Last updated on: January 26, 2026, 01:39h.
- UnitedHealth says Nevada isn’t a particularly healthy state
- Nevada was ranked the 42nd healthiest state
- New Hampshire is the healthiest state; Louisiana is the least healthy
The UnitedHealth Foundation has released its 2025 America’s Health Rankings, and, once again, Nevada didn’t score well.
Each year, the UnitedHealth Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to improving health and health care that’s part of the UnitedHealth Group, ranks the 50 states based on 99 key measures of health and well-being. Nevada, the casino capital of the country, ranked 42nd.
The study concluded that between 11.7% and 13.8% of Nevadan adults have at least three chronic conditions, with examples including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cancer, asthma, diabetes, depression, and arthritis.
UnitedHealth Foundation researchers cited Nevada’s high prevalence of nonmedical drug use, a high economic hardship index score, and a low prevalence of cancer screenings as the state’s biggest health challenges.
Nevada being ranked near the bottom of the healthiest states list comes as little surprise, as the state is known for its gambling, Las Vegas nightlife, endless AYCE buffets, legal prostitution (in certain rural counties), 24/7 alcohol, and recreational marijuana. In 2024, the World Health Organization said the normalization of gambling is a detriment to global wellness.
Casino Complications
Nevada is home to more than 300 gaming locations, with most allowing patrons to smoke indoors.
The health survey reports that the tobacco smoking rate among Nevadans has declined from 15.7% in 2019 to 11.9%. Nevada’s smoking rate is only slightly higher than the national average of 11.6%, but because of the widespread prevalence of secondhand smoke, state residents could be at heightened risk of developing tobacco-related conditions. Such conditions include COPD, cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and stroke, type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and various cancers.
Nevada scored low marks for cancer screenings, with just 56.7% of adults aged 40 to 75 undergoing regular, recommended cancer screenings. That rate ranks 47th.
Nevada ranked dead last in terms of public health funding, and the percentage of adults who use nonmedical drugs (24.9%). The state ranked 43rd in fruit and vegetable consumption, 45th for getting enough sleep, and 47th in the percentage of the population that is uninsured (11.4%). Nevada’s health also suffered from higher unemployment, largely driven by casinos and resorts as they sought to reduce overhead. Nevada’s unemployment rate soared from 4.6% to 6.3% in 2025.
Drug deaths also skyrocketed, from 31.6 to 40.1 deaths per 100K people.
Not all is bad, however. The UnitedHealth Foundation reported that Nevada has a low prevalence of obesity, most households have access to reliable high-speed internet, and the state has adequate climate policies in place.
Casinos and Health
Vermont, Utah, and Hawaii, three states without commercial or tribal casinos, ranked among the top 10 healthiest states. Vermont placed third, Utah fifth, and Hawaii ninth.
Several commercial gaming states that prohibit indoor tobacco smoking fared well, including Massachusetts (No. 2), Maryland (No. 8), Colorado (No. 12), and Delaware (No. 18).
The UnitedHealth Foundation reported several promising nationwide statistics, including that the number of premature deaths decreased by 8% and drug deaths declined by 3%. The report concluded that America is healthier than ever, thanks to inactivity rates continuing to decline.
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