Infographic: The High Cost of Smoking in Kentucky

(FRANKFORT, Ky - December 6, 2017) Kentucky spends $1.92 billion every year on health care costs related to smoking, according to a new infographic released by the Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow. The infographic makes the case for raising the state's current tax on cigarettes by at least $1 per pack, which would raise $266.2 million a year in revenue that the Commonwealth could use for health care, pensions or other needs.

Created by Kentucky Voices for Health, a Coalition partner and member of its steering committee, the infographic compiles national and Kentucky-specific data from several sources, including the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (also a Coalition partner and steering committee member). Nationwide, the cost of smoking-related health-care expenditures and lost productivity total $19.16 per pack of cigarettes. Kentucky's current cigarette tax of 60 cents per pack ranks 43rd in the country, significantly below the national average of $1.71. But the costs of smoking are measured not just in dollars, said Ben Chandler, Coalition chair. "Nearly 9,000 deaths every year in Kentucky are directly related to smoking, more than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined," Chandler said. "If we don't start reducing smoking rates in Kentucky right now, 119,000 of today's youth will die early due to tobacco use."

Smoking also causes 34 percent of all cancer cases in Kentucky, which has both the highest incidence of

cancer and the highest number of cancer deaths in the country. According to the infographic, 4,830 new cases of lung cancer tied to smoking are diagnosed every year in the Commonwealth. "The current tax doesn't begin to cover the high cost of smoking in Kentucky," said Emily Beauregard, executive director of Kentucky Voices for Health. "An extra dollar per pack will put a dent in those costs. More to the point of the Coalition's work, it also will save lives and improve health." In fact, 5,900 Kentucky babies would be born healthier over a five-year period because their moms would quit smoking if the state enacted a $1 tax increase. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids estimates that a total of 29,400 adults would quit smoking, and 23,200 kids would never start.

Research shows that a tobacco tax increase in Kentucky must be at least $1 to achieve any health benefits.

"Tobacco companies use coupons and other point-of-sale promotions to soften the impact of tax increases on the price of their products, so the tax increase has to be large enough to overcome those promotions," Chandler said. "A significant percentage of price-sensitive populations such as high school students, low-income pregnant women, and young adults will forgo smoking following a tax increase, but they have to feel it in their pocketbooks." The Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow is advocating for parallel tax increases on other tobacco products sold in Kentucky, including smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes, to help ensure vulnerable populations don't switch to these products. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "e-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products," and there is not enough research to date to determine whether e-cigarettes are effective in helping current smokers quit. Leaders of companies and organizations who would like to join the Coalition as a partner or member can do so on the website. Details regarding the benefits and responsibilities are found here. For more information, contact Angela Koch, akoch@healthy-ky.org, 502-326-2583.

About the Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow The Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow is committed to its mission of improving Kentucky's health by protecting Kentuckians from secondhand smoke and other tobacco emissions, and by reducing the high rate of smoking and tobacco use in the Commonwealth. For more information, please visit www.smokefreetomorrow.org. Coalition founding partners include the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, American Lung Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Baptist Health Kentucky, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Kentucky Council of Churches, Kentucky Voices for Health, and Kentucky Youth Advocates. Other partners and members of the Coalition represent a broad array of groups including Kentucky business leaders, health advocates, health care providers and payers, educators, and faith community leaders. See entire list on the Coalition website.

Media Contacts: Bonnie J. Hackbarth bhackbarth@healthy-ky.org 877-326-2583 (Office) 502-552-3770 (Mobile)

Angela Koch akoch@healthy-ky.org 877-326-2583 (Office) 502-759-2171 (Mobile)