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Home News The ‘Cost’ of Tobacco Use

The ‘Cost’ of Tobacco Use

Published: Thursday, January 1, 2009

If the threat of cancer, stroke or cardiac disease might not persuade a smoker to “kick the habit” maybe the related cost of smoking will make a difference in this economically challenging time.

Tennessee is ranked 5th in the nation when comparing the number of current smokers to other states (an increase from the 2006 ranking of 11th place). We all know the effects of tobacco use, but looking at statistics more closely will take your breath away.

One in five deaths in the United States is due to smoking. A smoker is more likely to:

• Be diagnosed with cancer (12 times more than nonsmokers)
• Develop heart disease (2 to 4 times over that of a nonsmoker)
• Have double the risk for stroke
• Be at an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis
• Have an increased chance of developing cataracts
  

Women who smoke have a 10 fold probability to die from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than nonsmokers. In Tennessee, more than 25% of women smoked during their pregnancy as compared with the national average of 19%.

If you think this is just an adult health issue, think again. More than 50% of Tennessee’s high school youth have tried smoking. Even more staggering, more than 25% currently smoke and 12.9% of high school youth use smokeless tobacco. Tobacco use in Tennessee’s middle schools was close to 10% in 2004.

Secondhand smoke is a carcinogenic and is responsible for 3,400 lung cancer deaths each year, 46,000 cardiovascular deaths and hundreds of thousands of asthma episodes. Secondhand smoke contains 250 chemicals that are toxic and 50 of those are known to cause cancer. Nonsmokers, who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work, increase their heart disease risk by 25-30% and their lung cancer risk by 20-30%.

Now to get to the money part. Tobacco use also has a cost not only to the individual but to society. An average smoker will spend almost $2,000 each year on tobacco products or $20,000 over a 10-year period. The total economic burden of smoking is approximately $193 billion per year according the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Tobacco use in the workplace attributes to $2.7 billion in due part to decreased productivity from lives shortened from tobacco deaths. If sick days were calculated into the cost of tobacco, the increase would be astronomical.

Are we saving lives and saving money? We are getting there. The incidence of lung cancer in men is declining significantly and the rate for women is stable after a long period of increase. The American Lung Association awarded Tennessee a grade of B in 2007 based on current smoke free initiatives and progress – a vast improvement from 2006 when Tennessee received an F. This improved score is based on passage of the Non-smokers Protection Act and increased community education programs on the effects of tobacco use. While Tennesseans are breathing freer, the “cost” of tobacco is still too high but the Volunteer state is willing to continue the fight.

If you would like help to quit smoking, try the Smoking Cessation Class or visit the Cancer Institute for more information.