Smoking and Well-being

Despite an increase in smoking cession programs and statewide bans against the cancer causing habit, there has been almost no change, and maybe even a slight increase, in smoking today.

According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 20.6% of Americans were smoking in 2008, which is just a shade below 20.9% in 2004. Annually, in the United States, cigarette smoking costs more than $193 billion, including costs for lost productivity and health care expenditures.

Facts are that 70% of smokers say they want to quit and 40% of smokers try to quit every year. Smokers themselves rate their well-being as at least 12 points less than nonsmokers when asked. They also have lower emotional health than their nonsmoking cohorts.(Read more …)

The director for the CDC has expressed disappointment in the lack of progress, and says the solution lies at the state and public level by enforcing more bans and making it harder for folks to light up.

The American Cancer Society has a few guidelines companies can follow to make smoking less desirable at work:

• No smoking at least 20 feet from main entrance
• Removal of any “designated smoking area”
• No smoking in company vehicles
• No tobacco products in the workplace

Helping your employees kick the habit is beneficial to them, their families, and your bottom line.

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