Paying for an employee’s tobacco cessation treatment provides more return on investment than any other adult treatment or prevention benefit. - National Business Group on Health, Center for Prevention and Health Services. Issue Brief, 2003

How much does tobacco cost you?

The human and financial costs associated with tobacco use are enormous. In addition to the physical and emotional distress brought on by tobacco related diseases and deaths, tobacco use demands a high price from employers via greater costs for health care and life insurance, increased absenteeism, and lower rates of productivity. The health of employees is the major factor in a business’ bottom line.

Do the math

To calculate the cost of smoking for an individual company, consider the following:

• The Indiana adult smoking rate is 24.1 percent.
• The CDC estimates that companies spend $3,383 per smoker per year in direct medical costs and lost productivity.

(Number of employees) X (0.27) x ($3,383 per year) = Estimated cost per year in excess medical expenditures and lost productivity.Example:

• (500 employees) x (0.27) = 135 employees who use
• (135) x ($3,383) = $456,705.00 per year in business borne costs associated with smoking.

Tobacco Treatment Benefits

Research shows that the most effective tobacco cessation help includes medications to treat withdrawal symptoms of quitting, coupled with counseling to help develop new ways to cope with the behavioral and psychological effects. Businesses that have included a tobacco cessation benefit report that this coverage has reduced total tobacco consumption, increased the number of tobacco users willing to undergo treatment, increased productivity, and increased the percentage of employees who successfully quit.

Model Tobacco Treatment Benefit

Cover Letter for Model Tobacco Use Treatment Benefit Materials
Key Elements of a Model Tobacco Use Treatment Benefit
Model Tobacco Use Treatment Benefit Language

According to “Priorities for America’s Health”, the three most valuable preventive health services that can be offered in medical practice today, each of which save more money than they cost and provide enormous health benefits, are:

• Intervening with smokers to help them quit;
• Discussing daily aspirin use with at-risk adults to prevent cardiovascular disease; and
• Immunizing children.

Partnership for Prevention. “Priorities for America’s Health: Capitalizing on life-saving,cost-effective preventive services.” May 16, 2006

Worksite Cessation Resources

People are ready to quit at different times, and the average tobacco user tries several times before quitting. That can be discouraging for tobacco users, their families, their co-workers and their employers. A person who resumes tobacco use after trying to quit may be discouraged from trying to quit again. That’s why it’s important to assure people that help is available when they are ready to quit. Indianapolis has a wealth of resources available to assist you in providing cessation services to your employees. These resources range from individual and group counseling, worksite cessation, to telephone counseling, which allow for the tobacco user to choose their preferred approach. Click here for available resources. Additionally, the Indiana Tobacco Quitline is FREE to all Hoosiers. Callers will speak with a Quit Coach to create a customized quitting plan and also receive materials and referrals to local resources. Please call the Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW for information on quitting.