New Study Finds That Smoking Costs Indiana $7.7 Billion Annually

A new study just released by the American Lung Association finds that smoking costs Indiana $7.7 billion annually. This amount includes workplace productivity losses of $2 billion, costs of premature death at $3 billion, and direct medical expenditures of $2.6 billion.

The report also found:
·For every dollar Indiana spends on providing tobacco cessation treatments, it has an average potential return on investment of $1.19.
·In Indiana the retail cost for a pack of cigarettes is $5.13. But the real price of a pack of cigarettes to society and to our state’s economy is $15.90 per pack.
·Indiana could save $14 Million annually by helping smokers quit.

Smoke Free Indy is, and always has been, committed to helping Indianapolis residents quit smoking to better the health of our community. If you or someone you love needs to quit smoking they can call 1-800-Quit-Now for four weeks of free telephone counseling and two-weeks free patch or gum. You can also visit our website for a list of local cessation resources. There is also a contest going on through the end of October, if someone commits smoking starting October 1st they can enter into win $2,500 through the Quit Now Indiana Contest.