(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research shows statewide tobacco control programs may be the most effective option to reduce the financial and health burden of smoking.

Results of a University of California, San Diego, study show California saved $86 billion on personal health care costs between the start of its statewide tobacco control program in 1989, and 2004. That number represents a 50-fold return on the $1.8 billion the state spent on the program. More specifically, results show 3.6 billion fewer packs of cigarettes were sold during five years of that time period.

Researchers analyzed data in California on smoking, health care expenditures and exposure to the tobacco control program. They then compared that to data in 38 control states, or states that either didn’t have comprehensive programs prior to 2000 or had tax increases of at least 50 cents per pack of cigarettes over the study period.
 

The study is the first to show evidence that tobacco control programs can reduce health care costs.

The California Tobacco Control Program (CTCP) is a state-funded public policy intervention established in 1989 to reduce tobacco use across California.

SOURCE: PloS Medicine, 2008;5:1-9