Cigarette and Tobacco News:

RASKOB / LACKEY: Deadly cost of smoking in Oklahoma

Read complete article: Tulsa World, 2009-04-23
Author: GARY RASKOB AND KEN LACKEY

Review:
New numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show the deadly impact of cigarette smoking in Oklahoma.

When the period of 2000-2004 is compared to 1996-1999, Oklahoma is the only state that failed to see a decrease in smoking-attributable mortality -- the deaths caused by smoking. In fact, Oklahoma had an increase of 26.9 deaths per 100,000 people. Women in our state do worse than men, with twice as many smoking-related deaths.

Cigarette smoking causes an estimated 443,000 premature deaths each year in this country, with 6,209 of these deaths in Oklahoma. That's 85,208 years of potential life lost by Oklahomans. The direct health-care and productivity losses caused by cigarette smoking are staggering: $193 billion each year nationwide, and more than $2 billion in Oklahoma.

The tobacco companies continue aggressive efforts to help ensure a steady stream of new smokers.

The non-partisan Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that substantial and enduring reductions in tobacco use depend on federal and state government steps to increase tobacco excise taxes, enact bans on smoking in public places, and increase health coverage for effective smoking cessation interventions. It called for full implementation of comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation programs at CDC-recommended funding levels.

Oklahoma should heed the IOM recommendations, which are based on scientific evidence.

Strengthening tobacco use prevention will decrease unnecessary premature loss of life, lower health-care costs, and have a positive impact on business competitiveness for our state.

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