ITPC Partners-
Today, the Bowen Research Center released its report on Estimating the Economic Impact of Secondhand Smoke on Indiana in 2007. This report estimates that in Indiana the overall health care costs and premature loss of life due to secondhand smoke exposure is more that $390 million annually.
Click here for the news release and executive summary of the report.
Action Items:
1. Distribute the news release to local media outlets
2. Share the report and news release with coalition members, policymakers and key business leaders in your community.
3. Reach out to a business leader to write a letter to the editor citing findings of this report and the impact to your county.
Consider this:
Secondhand smoke costs Hoosiers $62 per person in excess medical costs and loss of life. What does that mean to your community?
Talking Points:
- Costs to secondhand smoke-related medical expenses are staggering especially in this economy.
- The U.S. Surgeon General says there's no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke due to serious health impacts; now we know that there is a serious risk to the economy.
- Considering the current economic times these costs are completely preventable.
<<cost of shs in IN release_ final 020209_FINAL.pdf>> <<ExecSummary_ cost of SHS in IN_ final.pdf>>
Full report at: http://www.in.gov/itpc/2339.htm
