Workplace Health Strategies
Tobacco Use
The negative health effects of smoking are well known. Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death each year in the United States and the associated diseases and health care costs are significant. Tobacco users tend to require more medical costs, see physicians more often, and be admitted to hospitals for longer periods than non-tobacco users.
According to the CDC, smoking costs the nation $193 billion a year in healthcare costs and lost worker productivity. The CDC estimates each employee that smokes costs your company $3,391 per year—including $1,760 in lost productivity and $1,623 in excess medical expenses. By providing education to employees and implementing policy and environmental changes to your business, tobacco cessation in your workplace will positively impact all employees and improve your business’ overall health.
Did you know:
- Tobacco use leads to disease and disability
- Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, and lung diseases (including emphysema, bronchitis, and chronic airway obstruction)
- For every person who dies from a smoking-related disease, 20 more people suffer with at least one serious illness from smoking
Benefits of Decreasing Employee Tobacco Use
- Health and productivity contributes to the employer’s bottom dollar
- Provides a healthy environment for all employees
- Cessation programs have shown some immediate return on investment(as little as two years)
Quitting Smoking is Associated with These Health Benefits
- Lowers the risk for lung and other types of cancer
- Reduces the risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease
- Coronary heart disease risk is substantially reduced within 1 to 2 years of cessation
- Reduces respiratory symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath
- The rate of decline in lung function is slower among persons who quit smoking
- Reduces the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one ofthe leading causes of death in the United States
- Quitting smoking by women during their reproductive years reduces the risk for infertility
- Women who stop smoking during pregnancy also reduce their risk of having a low birth weight baby
Strategies to Reduce Tobacco Use
- Make all areas of the workplace tobacco-free (indoor and outdoor)
- Sponsortobacco cessation programs
- Cover the cost of nicotine replacement therapy and other medications
- Provide posters to support a no tobacco use policy
- Promote the South DakotaQuitLine (866-SD-QUITS)
Developed to provide workplaces with recommendations and guidance on ways to protect and promote the health and well-being of employees and visitors
