£2.08 billion Goes Up in Smoke Each Year – latest cost of Smoking to the North East is revealed
New figures released ahead of World No Tobacco Day (May 31) reveal that the total cost of smoking to society in the North East is now an estimated £2.08 billion.
Published by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the figures highlight the economic and social impact of smoking across the region and across England, underlining the huge burden it places on people and families, communities, public services and the wider economy.
The £2.08 billion total cost to the North East every year is made up of:
- Around £1.24 billion in lost productivity costs – lost earnings and unemployment through ill health, early deaths and money spent on tobacco
- Around £735 million in social care costs, with people who smoke more likely to require social care support because of ill health (10 years younger than non-smokers).The figure includes care needs met by local authorities and informal needs met by family
- £84.3 million in healthcare costs
- £18.1 million in costs linked to fires caused by smoking
In total, the cost nationally to England is a staggering £44.8 billion, including £27.8 billion to the economy, £14.8 billion in social care costs, £1.8 billion in healthcare costs, and £383 million in costs linked to fires caused by smoking. In contrast, revenue from tobacco taxation only raises around £7.5 billion nationally a year.
Fresh with Action on Smoking and Health said the figures highlight the need for sustained action to reduce smoking rates and help more people quit.
Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh and Balance, said: “Most people start smoking when they are young and spend many years trying to quit – nobody starts out intending to smoke for life.
“Reducing smoking rates would ease pressure on the NHS and social care and boost our economy, but also improve the lives of millions of people and families affected by smoking. Seven out of 10 North East smokers regret ever starting and say their life would be better if they did not smoke.
“There is more support to quit here in the North East than ever before. With fewer people smoking in the future, we can create a healthier and wealthier North East with fewer people becoming ill at a young age.”
Amanda Healy, Director of Public Health for County Durham and Chair of the Association of Directors of Public Health North East, said: “This is a cost felt not only by families, but also by our economy, social care services, and the NHS.
“Tobacco also contributes significantly to people getting addicted young then finding themselves being too unwell to work, placing further pressure on households and impacting on living standards across our communities. It makes sense for us all to strive for a totally smokefree future.”
The North East Chamber of Commerce has signed the new Pledge for a Smokefree UK, which was launched by Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Sir Chris Whitty, ASH CEO Hazel Cheeseman, Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson and King’s Fund CEO Sarah Woolnough in May. The Pledge is aimed at creating a UK where no one is harmed by tobacco, where children grow up free from tobacco addiction, and where support to quit is provided in every community.
Rhiannon Bearne, deputy chief executive at the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: “World No Tobacco Day highlights the importance of creating healthier environments and supporting positive long-term change that benefits not only individuals and families, but also businesses and communities across the North East.
“We know that healthier people are more productive, more engaged in their communities and more likely to participate fully in the workforce.
“Improving health and wellbeing is essential to unlocking the North East’s full economic potential and we look forward to continuing to work with our members to create a healthier, more resilient and productive region.”
Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness and premature death in the UK, causing around 80,000 deaths each year and harming nearly every organ of the body.
