Over 14,000 North Carolinians die each year due to
complications, with direct medical costs
of $3.81 billion annually. By investing in comprehensive
statewide tobacco control programs, we can save lives
and ease the financial burden of tobacco on our state.
Why is tobacco prevention important in North Carolina?
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1 in every 5 deaths in North Carolina are related to tobaccoover 14,000 North Carolinians die from tobacco-related
NC SOPHE Advocacy Priority #5
causes annually (NC Alliance for Health, 2015).
Tobacco use costs our state $3.81 billion in medical expenses annually. Secondhand smoke also
comes with a hefty price tag- $293 million in yearly health system costs (NC Medical Journal, 2011).
Tobacco use among North Carolina youth is increasing. There was an alarming increase in tobacco use
among youth from 25.8% in 2011 to 29.7% in 2013 (Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS), 2013). Increases in
cigarette taxes are a strong deterrent to smoking uptake among young people, saving our state
thousands of dollars and avoiding unnecessary suffering and loss of life (IJERPH, 2011).
E-cigarettes are not a safe alternative to traditional smoking. They have been shown to be as
addictive as traditional cigarettes and lead to cigarette use among youth (CDC, 2015). This is bad news
for our state, which saw a 352% increase in e-cigarette use among youth from 2011-2013 (YTS, 2013).
Read more here: http://www.tobaccopreventionandcontrol.ncdhhs.gov/Documents/CDCLetterofEvidenceonElectronicNicotineDeliverySystemsNorthCarolina-April2015.pdf
North Carolina invests just 3.4% of the CDC’s recommended investment of $10.53 per smoker (ALA,
2016), making our state 47th when it comes to investment in tobacco prevention.
North Carolina’s smoke-free law has positively impacted thousands, contributing to increases in calls
to the NC Quitline and improved air quality in restaurants and bars throughout the state (DHHS, 2014).
The NC Quitline remains severely underfunded, reaching just 1% of smokers despite the finding
that 60% of smokers in North Carolina report a desire to quit. (CDC Tobacco Branch, 2015).
What can legislators and others do to support tobacco prevention in North Carolina?
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Increase cigarette taxes by $1.00 per pack in order to reduce the number of youth who become
addicted to cigarettes and bring our state $400 million in revenue annually. (CTFK, 2015).
Raise the Minimum Legal Sale Age for tobacco products to 21 as research indicates this would save
lives and reduce medical costs to our state (CTFK, 2015).
Rely on reputable organizations, such as NC SOPHE, the NC Alliance for Health and the North Carolina
Public Health Association to stay informed about evidence-based approaches to tobacco prevention.
Invest in statewide tobacco control programs, including smoke-free environments and the NC Quitline.
Protect the existing smoke-free law that required restaurants and bars in North Carolina to be smokefree as of January 2, 2010 (SmokeFree.NC.gov, 2015).
Support efforts to make all college campuses in North Carolina tobacco-free, making it easier for
smokers to quit, saving our universities vital funds and supporting a healthier workforce (TFCCI, 2015).
*Please visit www.ncarolinasophe.org for more information on the North Carolina Society for Public Health Education