The Cost of Tobacco in Nova Scotia

While nearly every provincial government has examined the
dire effects of smoking on their citizens, Nova Scotia is
taking a close look at the effects of smoking on their
economy.

During National Non-Smoking Week, Jan. 15-19, Cancer Care
Nova Scotia wants to remind Nova Scotians of the high costs
associated with smoking.

The total cost of tobacco use in Nova Scotia is estimated to
be $168 million per year, or $177 per Nova Scotian. This
figure includes direct health-care costs, other direct costs
such as fire damage due to smoking, and indirect costs such
as productivity losses. In a province that spent $85 million
in net debt servicing costs alone this year, this is a
substantial expense. This information was in a report, Cost
of Tobacco in Nova Scotia, that was released by Cancer Care
Nova Scotia at the cancer symposium held in Cape Breton last
fall.

Dr. Andrew Padmos, Commissioner of Cancer Care Nova Scotia,
says this expense is needless. "The health-care costs of
cancer and other tobacco-related illness, such as heart and
respiratory diseases, are significant. Those costs come down
very quickly once you start helping people either quit or
help discourage youth from starting."

Besides the cost to taxpayers, smokers' employers also bear
a financial burden of an average of $2,280 more a year per
smoker due to unscheduled smoke breaks, absenteeism and
increased life insurance premiums.

This is the first report in Canada to present the cost
benefits of smoking prevention and cessation programs as
applied to a specific province. In releasing the report,
Cancer Care Nova Scotia is encouraging increased tobacco
taxes, and more tobacco education and cessation programs in
Nova Scotian schools.

Copies of the report are available through Cancer Care Nova
Scotia by calling 902-473-4645.