What are the financial consequences of smoking?
In 1997, the financial impact of smoking was substantial. An estimated $50 billion was spent on medical services for smokers1 and an estimated $47 billion was incurred by the loss of wages and income due to morbidity and mortality associated with smoking.5 How to Successfully Quit Smoking Seventy percent of smokers want to quit and 46% try to quit each year.6 However, there is not a magic bullet for quitting smoking. Success is influenced by many variables including social support, advice, and the use of medications.7 A heavy smoker who is successful at quitting on a first attempt is rare. The average number of attempts for those who eventually succeed is between 3 and 4.7 Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, a Clinical Practice Guideline sponsored by a consortium of seven Federal Government and nonprofit organizations supports the use of medication (in all patients without contraindications) in conjunction with counseling for every patient making an attempt to quit smoking.Strong evid
