Cigarette tax increase and media campaign cost of reducing smoking-related deaths

Abstract

Background: Tobacco use results in 500,000 premature deaths annually. Most smokers begin using tobacco before age 21, so the greatest impact on preventing smoking-related mortality is likely to come from campaigns targeting youths. This study estimates the cost-effectiveness of an anti-smoking media campaign and dollar 1 per pack increase in cigarette taxes on the lifetime decrease in smoking-attributable mortality among the cohort of all 18-year-olds in the United States during the year 2000.

Methods: Cost-effectiveness analysis conducted from a societal perspective.

Results: The combined effects of a media campaign and dollar 1 per pack tax increase will result in a societal savings of between dollar 590,000 per life-year saved, at a 3% discount rate and dollar 1.4 million per life year saved, at a 7% discount rate.

Conclusions: A media campaign and $1 per pack cigarette tax increase will reduce overall smoking prevalence, significantly decrease smoking-attributable mortality, and decrease net societal costs.