"Tobacco Free Awareness Week" Reveals True "Cost" of Smoking

Source from:  CBS 19 Tyle 01/21/2015

The cost of using tobacco extends further than the money you pull from your pocket to pay for it. The health costs can affect you, the people and even the animals around you. CBS 19's Katiera Winfrey explains just how costly your habit could be.

Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the us. That's according to the American Cancer Society. It's estimated that 45 million Americans are tobacco users, and even with the growing popularity of e-cigarettes. The cost and health concerns remain the same.

The average smoker can expect to spend about $1.4 million on tobacco in their lifetime.

"I haven't had any bad medical news yet, so maybe that will be the thing that does it but literally the expense of it," said long time smoker David Wallace.

With the average cost of a pack of cigarettes just over $6.00 a pack- a- day habit adds up fast. You and the people around you are feeling the health costs of your smoking too.

"One out of eight people that have a tobacco related issue, actually don't smoke," said Terrence Ates with NetHealth.

Multiple forms of cancer, heart disease, blindness and infertility can be attributed to tobacco use. tobacco related health care costs and productivity loss account for $193 billion pulled from the economy each year.

"I am trying to quit and I've had some success," said Wallace. "I'm constantly trying I've tried everything just about, the latest thing I tried was e-cigarettes and for many months they worked really good, then I found myself like other people smoking e-cigarettes and cigarettes."

Although quitting is a personal decision, north east health district is doing what it can to help through its "Clear the Air" campaign.

"Tyler and Lindale are the only cities in Smith County to have an indoor smoking policy," said Ates.

So far, 250 restaurants have vowed to create clear air zone or make their establishments smoke free zones. The goal is to help lower the public exposure to second and third hand smoke.

Wallace's advice to everyone: never start smoking. Enditem