Mission: To protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county &

community efforts.

Rick Scott Governor John H. Armstrong, MD, FACS State Surgeon General & Secretary

Vision: To be the Healthiest State in the Nation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 19, 2013

Contact: Jessie Hayes, PIO (850) 227-1276

Helping Tobacco Users Quit Can Improve a Businesss Bottom Line -The Florida Department of Health Gulf County Tobacco Prevention Program Can Help Employers Create Quit Programs and Tobacco Free Policies Gulf County Tobacco users arent the only ones paying the cost of their addiction with their health and wallet. Gulf County employers are paying the price as well. Employees who smoke can cost businesses more than 1 $6,000 per year when compared to non-smokers. In time for the Great American Smoke Out taking place on Nov. 21, the Florida Department of Healths Tobacco Free Florida program and the Florida Department of Health in Gulf County Tobacco Prevention Program are encouraging businesses across Gulf County to help their employees quit tobacco. The Florida Department of Health in Gulf County offers employers free assistance in developing tobacco cessation programs, whether its through the companys health insurance provider or the states free cessation 2 services. Nearly 70 percent of smokers want to quit, and getting help through their employers can increase their chance of success while simultaneously benefiting the business. When an individual quits smoking, it is the most important step an individual can take to live a healthier life. said Jessie Pippin, Tobacco Prevention Coordinator for the Florida Department of Health in Gulf County. Its been proven that smokers who are trying to quit are more successful if they have the support of friends, family or a health care professional. Its important to remember that quitting isnt only about overcoming an addictionits also a major lifestyle change. Health care costs are one of the largest expenses facing Gulf 3 County businesses. On average, health care costs for employees who smoke are up to 34 percent higher compared to 4 non-smokers. Every employee who smokes can cost employers 1 an extra $2,056 a year in health care expenses. Tobacco use is also the leading cause of productivity loss at work. In fact, each smoker can cost a business an average of $4,056 every year in lost productivity including sick days, 1 distraction at work, and smoking breaks. Workers who smoke at least one pack a day experience 75 percent more productivity 5 loss than non-smoking workers. Businesses who want to help their employees quit tobacco should also implement a tobacco free grounds policy at their workplace, said Tobacco Free Florida Bureau Chief Shannon Hughes. These policies are one of the most effective ways to help employees quit and it creates a healthier environment for all. Tobacco free grounds policies nearly double the chance that employees will quit. For those that do not quit, the 7 policy will reduce the number of cigarettes smoked by employees during the week.
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Tobacco free grounds policies are easy to enforce. More than 80 percent of Floridians do not smoke, and 9 research has shown compliance rates for tobacco free grounds policies to be more than 96 percent.

For more information, please contact Jessie Pippin at (850) 227-1276 ext. 168 or Jessie.Pippin@flhealth.gov. ABOUT TOBACCO FREE FLORIDA The Departments Tobacco Free Florida campaign is a statewide cessation and prevention campaign funded by Floridas tobacco settlement fund. Tobacco users interested in quitting are encouraged to use one of the states three ways to quit. To learn about Tobacco Free Florida and the states free quit resources, visit www.tobaccofreeflorida.com or follow the campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TobaccoFreeFlorida or Twitter at www.twitter.com/tobaccofreefla. DOH works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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1 Berman M., Crane R., Seiber E., & Munur M. (2013). Estimating the cost of a smoking employee. Tobacco Control. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2012-050888 2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Quitting smoking among adults --- United States, 2001--2010. MMWR, 60(44): 1513, 1519. 3 Employee Benefit Research Institute. (2011). EBRI databook on employee benefits: Employer spending on health insurance. Available at: http://www.ebri.org/publications/books/?fa=databook. Accessed June 29, 2013. 4 Leif Associates Inc. (2012). The business case for coverage of tobacco cessation: 2012 update. 5 Stewart W.F., Ricci J.A., Chee E., & Morganstein D. (2003). Lost productive work time costs from health conditions in the United States: Results from the American Productivity Audit. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 45(12):123440. 6 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Smoke-free policies reduce smoking. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/protection/reduce_smoking/. Accessed June 29, 2013. 7 Fichtenberg C., & Glantz, S. (2002). Effect of smoke-free workplaces on smoking behaviour: systematic review. British Medical Journal, 325(188). 8 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Behavioral risk factor surveillance system survey data. 9 Shopland, D.R., Anderson, C.M., Burns, D.M., & Gerlach, K.K. (2004). Disparities in smoke-free workplace policies among food service workers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 46(4):347356.