STUDY: INDIANA’S TOBACCO CONTROL EFFORTS WOEFULLY UNDERFUNDED

Despite persistently high smoking rates, the Hoosier state’s spending on tobacco control is 11 percent of federal recommendations, less than half of the national average.

INDIANAPOLIS (June 5, 2018) — Comprehensive tobacco control efforts play a powerful role in reducing smoking and the health and economic toll of the smoking epidemic. But Indiana woefully underfunds these initiatives, falling far below federal recommendations and dollars spent in other states, a report released today by the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation shows.

Nel 2016, l’Indiana ha destinato solo $8,2 milioni in spese federali e statali per impedire agli Hoosiers di iniziare a fumare, aiutarli a smettere e proteggere le persone dal fumo passivo. Questo è solo l’11% dei $73,5 milioni raccomandati dai Centri per il controllo e la prevenzione delle malattie (CDC) – e molto indietro rispetto ai livelli di finanziamento di altri stati, secondo lo studio condotto da ricercatori dell’Health Policy Center dell’Università dell’Illinois a Chicago. Il finanziamento pro capite per il controllo del tabacco in Indiana – pari a $1,23 – è meno della metà della media nazionale di $2,92.

Nel frattempo, il tasso di fumatori dell'Indiana rimane pari a 10th highest nationwide, with more than one in five Hoosiers smoking, at a devastating toll to the state. More than 11,000 Hoosiers die prematurely from smoking each year, and smoking costs Indiana $7.6 billion annually due to health care expenses, lower productivity and premature deaths.

“Tobacco has an overwhelming impact on Indiana – both in lives lost and dollars wasted,” said Claire Fiddian-Green, president and CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation. “By increasing funding levels to CDC recommendations, we could make significant strides in addressing our smoking crisis. With our current inadequate levels of tobacco control funding, we’re missing a key opportunity to help improve our state’s poor health outcomes.”

L’Indiana era un leader nazionale nel finanziamento degli sforzi per affrontare il problema del fumo. Nel 2001, lo Stato ha stanziato $35 milioni di risorse proprie e $1,4 milioni di dollari federali per il controllo del tabacco, una somma in linea con le raccomandazioni del CDC. Questi numeri sono costantemente diminuiti fino a raggiungere i valori attuali inferiori alla media.

Per soddisfare le raccomandazioni del CDC, l’Indiana dovrebbe spendere nove volte il livello attuale, ovvero $65,3 milioni in più all’anno. Ciò comporterebbe una miriade di risultati positivi, tra cui:

  • An 11 percent reduction in adult smoking, decreasing the number of adult smokers by nearly 120,000;
  • Una diminuzione dei costi sanitari di oltre $373 milioni;
  • A decrease in productivity losses of more than $311 million; and
  • Nearly 1,200 fewer pregnant women who smoke – a key step toward reducing Indiana’s higher-than-average infant mortality rates.

“By increasing funding for tobacco control efforts, Indiana would save lives and position itself for a brighter, more prosperous future,” said Kevin Brinegar, president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. “This is critical if our state is to remain competitive with peers – for talent, jobs and citizens’ wellbeing – in the 21st century.”

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INFORMAZIONI SULLA FONDAZIONE RICHARD M. FAIRBANKS

La Fondazione Richard M. Fairbanks si impegna a promuovere la vitalità di Indianapolis e il benessere della sua gente affrontando le sfide e le opportunità più significative della città. La Fondazione si concentra su tre aree tematiche: istruzione, dipendenza da tabacco e oppioidi e scienze della vita. Per portare avanti il proprio lavoro, la Fondazione implementa un triplice approccio: concessione di sovvenzioni strategiche, sostegno basato sull’evidenza e collaborazioni e convegni intersettoriali. Scopri di più su RMFF.org.

ABOUT THE REPORT AUTHORS

Drs. John A. Tauras and Frank J. Chaloupka have decades of experience researching the impact of tobacco control policies and programs on tobacco use. John A. Tauras, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and a Faculty Scholar at the Institute of Health Research and Policy at UIC. Much of Dr. Tauras’ research has examined the impact of government policies on the demand for tobacco products and has resulted in more than 50 journal articles and chapters in conference volumes on this topic. Frank J. Chaloupka, PhD, is a Research Professor in the Division of Health Policy and Administration in the University of Illinois at Chicago’s (UIC) School of Public Health and in the UIC Department of Economics. He is also the Director of the UIC Health Policy Center. Dr. Chaloupka is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading researchers on the economics of health behaviors, including tobacco use, excessive drinking, illicit drug use, diet, and physical activity, and has published over 450 journal articles, book chapters, books, and other products.