Tobacco Cost & Usage

Rhode Island Numbers

Prevalence

• An estimated 1,750 people a year die in Rhode Island from illnesses directly linked to tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure;
• Each year, 1,400 kids in Rhode Island under age 18 become new daily smokers; half of these kids will eventually die from a tobacco-related illness;
• Over 2 million packs of cigarettes are bought or smoked by kids in Rhode Island each year;
• More than 50,000 children are exposed at home to secondhand smoke, increasing their risk of respiratory infections, ear infections, asthma, cancer and premature death. 

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At-risk Populations

Tobacco related illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, impact certain population groups at higher levels than other users. Those differences in health status cannot be explained by biological or genetic factors alone. At-risk populations in Rhode Island include:

• Young Adults 18 to 24 years old
• Native Americans
• Asian Americans
• Disabled indidivuals
• Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Queer/Questioning (LGBQ)
• Mentally ill persons
• Low income

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Cost

• Healthcare costs associated with tobacco use are estimated to exceed $500 million annually
• Over 2 million packs of cigarettes are bought or smoked by kids in Rhode Island each year. 
• The tobacco industry spends more than $35 million annually to market its products in Rhode Island.

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