Department Of Health Assists Smokers Prompted To Quit By Federal Cigarette Tax Increase

Thursday, April 2, 2009

An increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco has taken effect and as a result, the Department of Health anticipates increased interest in its Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine and cessation services available at county health departments across the state.

The tax on cigarettes has been increased from 39 cents to $1.01 per pack, while the per-pound cost for chewing tobacco goes from 19.5 cents to 50 cents.

The Department stands ready to assist tobacco users in their efforts to kick the addiction for good. “We offer a variety of smoking cessation programs for Tennesseans, and urge anyone who smokes or uses smokeless tobacco to contact us and let us help them start the quitting process,” said Health Commissioner Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN. “Quitting tobacco use is absolutely one of the most important decisions you can make to improve your health and protect the health of those around you.”

Tennessee residents can take advantage of the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine, a free service which offers personalized support to those who want to quit smoking and/or other tobacco products. Callers are connected with trained quit coaches to guide them through the quitting process, and will receive ongoing professional coaching via individually scheduled calls with a counselor personally assigned to them. QuitLine callers also have complimentary access to relapse prevention techniques, printed resource materials, information on nicotine replacement therapies and other services to help with the quitting process.

This convenient and confidential service is available to Tennessee residents in both English and Spanish at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669). The service is also available for the deaf and hard-of-hearing at TTY: 1-877-559-3816. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Central Time. To learn more about the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine, visit the Web site at http://health.state.tn.us/tobaccoquitline.htm.

The Department of Health also offers smoking cessation services through all county health department locations. In addition, the Department recently initiated collaboration with the state’s 23 federally qualified health centers to provide services to their patients who are trying to quit tobacco use. Patients are evaluated to determine the best course of treatment for each individual. Treatment may include nicotine replacement therapy such as lozenges, gum or prescription medication. Services are offered on a sliding fee scale based on income. A list of county health department locations can be found online at http://health.state.tn.us/localdepartments.htm. More information about Tennessee’s FQHCs is available online at www.tnpca.org.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoking results in an estimated 443,000 premature deaths nationwide each year, and costs the economy $193 billion in health care expenses and lost time from work. In Tennessee, an estimated 9,700 adults die every year from smoking. Smoking is a major contributor to lung disease, cancer and heart disease.

“Prospects for reducing the harm from smoking are better than they have been in years”, said Timothy Gardner, MD, president of the American Heart Association. "Every time the tax on tobacco goes up, the use of cigarettes goes down."

The federal tobacco tax increase is designed to generate funding to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. It is expected to produce the following significant public health benefits and healthcare cost savings in the United States and Tennessee:

· Number of current adult U.S. smokers who will quit: 1,020,000

· Number of current Tennessee smokers who will quit: 30,200

· Number of U.S. smokers saved from future smoking-related death: 905,000

· Number of Tennessee smokers saved from future smoking-related death: 23,100

· U.S. healthcare savings from declines in adult and youth smoking: $44.5 billion

· Tennessee healthcare savings from declines in adult and youth smoking: $1.1 billion

· Healthcare savings in U.S. federal-state Medicaid program: $7.5 billion

· Healthcare savings in Tennessee Medicaid program (TennCare): $241 million