Saturday, January 20, 2018

Smoking costs are high
Among the items on hundreds of Tennesseans' New Year's resolution lists are promises to quit smoking. But a new study by survey giant WalletHub gives a $1 million reason why the state needs to kick the habit. In the report "The Real Cost of Smoking by State," analysts rank the state sixth lowest in the country in terms of smoking's cost, which is estimated to be more than $1.1 million over a lifetime. Analyst Jill Gonzalez says while the Volunteer State is among the cheapest for smokers, it costs in the long run. "Either way, you're looking at over $1 million lost essentially over the course of a lifetime, so it's definitely cheaper to be a nonsmoker in every state," she states. In addition to the cost of the habit itself, smokers pay more than $122,000 for related health care and lose almost $200,000 in wages. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 percent of adults smoke in the Volunteer State. Data from 2009 - the most recent available - shows that more than half of adult smokers made an attempt to quit. Gonzalez says studies like this one are important to understand the cost to the larger community. "Obviously, there's an increase in insurance premiums when you're a smoker," she points out. "We look at income loss per smoker, and a lot of that is due to people seeing smokers go on breaks more - that leads to smaller raises, lost promotions, et cetera." One piece of positive news regarding smoking trends: CDC data released in 2017 showed that teen rates of smoking have hit an all-time low. Between 2011 and 2016, smoking declined among middle and high school students. The state Department of Health offers free help to people wishing to quit. The number for help is 1-800-QUIT-NOW.


Return to Today's News Stories - Front Page

Thursday, April 29, 2021

  • US 411 Project News
  • Mill Creek Wildfire Update
  • More Bad News For Smokies' Fans

    Wednesday, April 28, 2021

  • Mill Creek Wildfire doubles in size
  • Goodbye Smokies?
  • Keep Cocke County Beautiful
  • Cocke Co. High School Remote Learning today!

    Tuesday, April 27, 2021

  • The fireflies are coming!
  • Burnout Operations on MillCreek wildfire today
  • Gas prices drop
  • Tennessee keeps all US House seats

    Monday, April 26, 2021

  • Boat accident victim ID'd
  • Traffic stop yields drug arrest
  • Cocke County Wildfires

    Friday, April 23, 2021

  • Leaving WNPC
  • Mathis announces candidacy
  • Newport drug roundup
  • Cruise Against Cancer
  • Jobless numbers