Thursday, September 16, 2010
Study Says Smokers Cost West Virginia Millions
WEST VIRGINIA....
A pack of cigarettes sells for $4.60 in West Virginia, but costs the state's economy $13.04 per pack in health care for smoking-related diseases, lost time at work and premature death, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at Penn State University. Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department says taxpayers are subsidizing $8.44 out of every pack, every day for smokers. According to researchers, the 380,739 West Virginians who smoke go through more than 188 million packs annually, an average of 496 cigarette packs per year. Medical expenditures for smoking-related illnesses totaled about $861 million in 2009, and premature deaths due to smoking cost the economy about $1.1 billion. Smoking also cut productivity in the state by about $452 million. West Virginia spends about $6 million a year on programs including education, clean indoor air programs and the Tobacco Quitline to help residents stop smoking.
A pack of cigarettes sells for $4.60 in West Virginia, but costs the state's economy $13.04 per pack in health care for smoking-related diseases, lost time at work and premature death, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at Penn State University. Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department says taxpayers are subsidizing $8.44 out of every pack, every day for smokers. According to researchers, the 380,739 West Virginians who smoke go through more than 188 million packs annually, an average of 496 cigarette packs per year. Medical expenditures for smoking-related illnesses totaled about $861 million in 2009, and premature deaths due to smoking cost the economy about $1.1 billion. Smoking also cut productivity in the state by about $452 million. West Virginia spends about $6 million a year on programs including education, clean indoor air programs and the Tobacco Quitline to help residents stop smoking.
# posted by Homer Owens @ 9:07 AM 
