And this is also just a promoter for Big Pharm!
The reason the Government is working to get us all to quit smoking, is so Big Pharm can get our money for quit smoking aides!
Posted on 01/08/2003 11:47:08 AM PST by SheLion
Research Shows Cigarette Price Hikes and Anti-Smoking Legislation Have Had Positive Impact on Quitting Rates
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- More than ever, a significant number of Americans resolved to ring in a smoke-free New Year when the clock struck midnight on December 31st. Leading economic researchers say this surge can be attributed to two key factors: cigarette price hikes and smoking ban legislation, which have taken hold in numerous states across the country.
"The data are clear. Higher cigarette prices, including those resulting from cigarette excise tax increases, have led to reductions in cigarette smoking," says Frank Chaloupka, Ph.D., director of the Health Policy Center and Professor of Economics at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "Our research finds that every 10 percent increase in cigarette prices reduces the number of people who smoke by approximately two percent; and that a permanent 10 percent increase in cigarette prices would reduce the average duration of smoking by about 10 percent."
Dr. Chaloupka, whose findings have been cited in anti-smoking ballot measures in a number of states, found that reductions in smoking resulting from higher cigarette taxes are furthered when states use the revenues to fund behavioral support programs to assist quitters . Moreover, investigators note that the recent cigarette price hikes have led to significant increases in the demand for stop smoking nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) such as the nicotine patch, gum and lozenge, which have been shown to significantly increase a smoker's chance of quitting successfully.
"Cold turkey has about a 95 percent chance of failure," says Steven Lamm, M.D., clinical assistant professor of medicine at New York University. "There are safe and effective FDA-approved products like the NicoDerm® CQ® nicotine patch, Nicorette® gum and the new Commit(TM) lozenge that can help smokers control their cravings and withdrawal symptoms. These tools, combined with support and encouragement from friends and family, have been shown to increase a smoker's chances of quitting successfully."
In addition to cigarette tax hikes, the trend among governmental officials and lawmakers to implement public smoking bans in many cities and states further provide societal support for smokers to quit. In fact, according to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who championed anti-smoking legislation that recently won approval, prohibiting smoking in workplaces, bars and restaurants could save 1,000 lives a year.
Overall, public health advocates and physicians agree that these aggressive state and city anti-tobacco initiatives may provide just the incentive smokers need to resolve to quit once and for all. "Taken together, our findings clearly demonstrate the importance of economic incentives in promoting smoking cessation," says Dr. Chaloupka. He adds that higher cigarette prices and anti-tobacco legislation will lead many current smokers to quit smoking, and when coupled with increased access to cessation services and products, even larger reductions in smoking will result.
GlaxoSmithKline -- one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies -- is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For more information about original, mint- and orange-flavored Nicorette gum, original and Clear(TM) NicoDerm CQ patch, or the new Commit lozenge, visit http://www.quit.com .
And this is also just a promoter for Big Pharm!
The reason the Government is working to get us all to quit smoking, is so Big Pharm can get our money for quit smoking aides!
Funny, my wife is a RN and first found out about this from one of her patients. She thought it would cut down on my smoking, but soon realized how much money we were saving.
She is amazing and can crank out a full 200 cig carton in only 30 minutes! While watching TV, she likes to keep her hands busy, so making cigs is actually enjoyable to her.
The savings in taxes over the last 3 years is absolutely astounding.
How do they know?
When Maine raised the taxes in the spring of 2002, putting our cartons at $45-$50 a carton, I said THAT'S IT! Through my friends in here, I found out about rolling our own.
We went right down to our local Smoke Shop, and stocked up. It's been 19 months of rolling our own. We get a beautiful carton for UNDER $8.00! The savings for Christmas has wonderful and not paying into the state coffers anymore just tickles me to death! They killed the goose that laid the golden egg, and we refuse to be singled out for money just because we smoke a legal commodity!
I KNOW it! Pretty stupid statement, isn't it?
I am thoroughly sick and tired of these antis using paid propaganda by masking it as news.
Yep! They write their own propaganda and spin! And the general public believes it. And that statement about how many people made resolutions to quit smoking, and how quitting cold turkey is almost impossible. What a bunch of garbage!
And don't forget how much support smokers get from harassment, ridicule and demonization. Can't you just feel all that love and support? I'm truly overwhelmed with gratitude. :-)
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming....
Tell me about it.
I've had an on-going problem with with what basically amounts to drug dealers across the street from me. I have had all kinds of harrassment heaped upon me by these "people" because of my complaints to them about their loud music and my calling the cops.
the one person who is the major problem, and doesn't even live here, is an anti -- or at least comes across that way because of comments he has directed towards me. I can not walk out of my house to put out the trash or get in the car if he and his cronies are around without some smart aleck remark being made.
The funny thing is, it's the anti-smoker comments as opposed to the racial slurs that stick out most in my mind.
I'll trade you some beach front property in KC!!!!
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