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Recession Forces Tough Choices for Smokers

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 30, 2009 4:03 PM CDT

(Newser) – The recession—coupled with a historic increase in the federal tobacco tax—is hitting smokers pretty hard, MSNBC reports. “We had a light bill that needed to be paid, so we paid a third of it so we could have cigarette money,” said one who’s tried to quit numerous times. “We’ve done that a couple times. It kind of works out but it makes it rough for the next week.”

Though the recession has sparked a boom in people trying to quit, it has also hit anti-smoking agencies in the wallet. “In an environment where you’ve got a higher tax, mass media campaigns and everything else lining up to push lifestyle change, it’s tragic that when we are having more people interested in quitting, we are withdrawing cessation resources,” an advocate said.

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (1)]

President Barack Obama signs the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. (AP Photo)

A customer at the Red Key Taven in Indianapolis smokes a cigarette. (AP Photo)

Eddie Silva, a staff sergeant select with the U.S. Marines, sits outside and smokes a cigarette at the VA Western Blind Rehabilitation Center in Palo Alto, Calif. (AP Photo)

A woman smokes a Marlboro Medium cigarette in Trenton, N.J. (AP Photo)

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The less you have and the more out of control you are in a depressing economy, the more reasons you have to run for the cigarettes. It’s in your control; you can enjoy your cigarettes while the world around you falls apart. - David Abrams, Schroeder Institute

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 9 comments

Snarfeh

Jul 1, 2009 12:18 PM CDT

My nephew was just showing me last night how he rolls his own now. He bought a little machine for $8, a carton of cigarette papers with filters already attached for $4 and a can of tobacco for $22. He can get 200 cigarettes out of that and says he is saving about $24 per 200 cigarettes by doing that. I suggested he quit and save more, but he's not at that point yet, I guess. The young...they think they will live forever...

Newser001

Jul 1, 2009 3:22 AM CDT

Prescription based on blood analysis for TAR, NIC, CO dispensary justification with a limit to 2 cartons a week (verified by repeated blood analysis 2x p/yr to confirm usage; not for black market consumption), sold only through pharmacies. Mandatory FDA Mandates to reduce TAR, NIC, CO to >20% of their present values over a 3-5 year window. Bring back lotus and cabbage cigarettes, with absolutely no additives, pesticides to help wean people off (it's how I quit), also by prescription only. End of problem

Newser001

Jul 1, 2009 3:08 AM CDT

We ether pay now, or later, wouldn't yah say? They'll get free healthcare and we'll pay for it when they're sick and dying. My spin; make cigarettes available only by prescription to 21+. You smoke, you see a doctor. 3 year window to qualify (we begin the 3 year window in 2010 and it closes in 2013). After that, no new patients can get prescriptions. After they are dead and gone, no more smoking. End of problem. BTW, I smoked for 35 years, smoke free for almost 8. It sucked and I was unquestionably addicted. It should be a crime to sell, market the damn things.

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tobacco • recession • addiction • smoking cessation • cigarette • Obama administration

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