Average TN Smoker Spends $93,000 per lifetime on Smokes

Feb 04, 2016 at 06:13 am by bryan


The average smoker in Tennessee will spend $93,000 dollars on his or her habit over a lifetime, according to new data from the personal-finance website WalletHub. Lifetime health-care costs are even higher, at $113,000, and tobacco-addiction specialist Donna Borowski said finding the motivation to quit comes down to very personal reasons.

"One of my most favorite tools to use when coaching patients is get them to think about why it would even be important," she said. "What they're wanting for themselves around their health, around their future. It begins to gel a little bit more."

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While lifetime costs of smoking sound high, the state actually has the seventh-lowest out-of-pocket costs, compared with the rest of the country. For example, New York residents spend more than double that over a lifetime.

Much of the variance is attributed to different tobacco taxes between states. WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez said Tennessee is not unlike its neighbors. "So there is still not a lot of taxes on cigarettes. The cost per pack is going to be a lot cheaper than some other states," she said. "You'll find that it's really joined with some similar company here. Most of the top 10 states are all in the South."

For those who want to quit, Borowski said, taking a strategic approach can lead you toward success. "Why are you wanting it? And if we can ground you in that, then let's talk about what your barriers are and what's going to motivate you," she said, "and then, let's use the medicines - because they work." Experts also advise smokers trying to quit to take it one day at a time, don't carry cigarettes with you, and be aware of routine situations that might trigger your urge to smoke.

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