We know that every 10% increase in the price of cigarettes decreases smoking among our price-sensitive youth by about 7%. It also encourages adult smokers to quit, reducing adult smoking rates by about 4%. West Virginia’s current cigarette tax is 55 cents per pack, 44th in the nation and well below the national average of $1.49 per pack.
We lose nearly 4,000 West Virginians prematurely each year from tobacco use, the most preventable cause of death. That's 4,000 too many.
In addition, tobacco use costs West Virginia more than lives--approximately $2 billion annually from both direct healthcare costs and lost productivity.
It’s time to get serious about preventing today’s kids from becoming tomorrow’s addicted smokers. Urge your lawmakers to support an increase in West Virginia’s tobacco tax in the next session!
Posts
One Response to "West Virginia Kids Deserve Better!"