The purpose of The Burden of Tobacco is to describe the health and economic burden associated with cigarette smoking in Wisconsin. The conclusions of this report is that cigarette smoking continues to significantly impact the health and economic well-being of Wisconsin and its people. Given that nearly 1 million people continue to smoke cigarettes in Wisconsin, including an estimated 74,000 youth, cigarette smoking will continue to be both a health and economic burden for the state. Programs, policies and organizations, like W3TFL, aimed at preventing and reducing the number of people who smoke cigarettes are essential to the elimination of this problem.

Number of smokers: 915,379 (total population: 5,627,967)

Number of High School students who smoke: 64,897

Percentage of pregnant mothers who smoke: 14.9%

Number of lives lost due to smoking-related illnesses each year: 7,717

     (Smoking is believed to cause 7,717, or 17%, of the 46,048 deaths that occur in an average year)

Cost of Health Care and Lost Productivity due to smoking: $4.5 billion

Wisconsin lost $1.7 billion annually in productivity costs because of illness and premature death directly associated with smoking.

In 2007, an estimated $2.8 billion in health care costs were paid in Wisconsin as a result of diseases caused by smoking.

Years of potential life lost annually from the effects of smoking: 94,500 years

In 2008, Wisconsin residents spent approximately $1.5 billion on 374 million packs of cigarettes.

Number of smokers: 2,634 (total population: 16,196)

Number of High School students who smoke: 208

Percentage of pregnant mothers who smoke: 34.6%

Number of lives lost due to smoking-related illnesses each year: 33

     (Smoking is believed to cause 33, or 18%, of the 179 deaths that occur in an average year)

Cost of Health Care and Lost Productivity due to smoking: more than $13 million

Burnett County lost $5 million annually in productivity costs because of illness and premature death directly associated with smoking.

In 2007, an estimated $8.11 million in health care costs were paid in Burnett County as a result of diseases caused by smoking.

Years of potential life lost annually from the effects of smoking: 430 years

In 2008, Burnett County residents spent approximately $4.1 million on 1,010,000 packs of cigarettes.

Number of smokers: 6,134 (total population: 40,254)

Number of High School students who smoke: 527

Percentage of pregnant mothers who smoke: 15.8%

Number of lives lost due to smoking-related illnesses each year: 29

     (Smoking is believed to cause 29, or 13%, of the 227 deaths that occur in an average year)

Cost of Health Care and Lost Productivity due to smoking: $32 million

Pierce County lost $12.2 million annually in productivity costs because of illness and premature death directly associated with smoking.

In 2007, an estimated $19.8 million in health care costs were paid in Pierce County as a result of diseases caused by smoking.

Years of potential life lost annually from the effects of smoking: 370 years

In 2008, Pierce County residents spent approximately $9.8 million on 2,400,000 packs of cigarettes.

Number of smokers: 6,353 (total population: 44,270)

Number of High School students who smoke: 555

Percentage of pregnant mothers who smoke: 20.9%

Number of lives lost due to smoking-related illnesses each year: 61

     (Smoking is believed to cause 61, or 15%, of the 405 deaths that occur in an average year)

Cost of Health Care and Lost Productivity due to smoking: $35.6 million

Polk County lost $13.6 million annually in productivity costs because of illness and premature death directly associated with smoking.

In 2007, an estimated $22 million in health care costs were paid in Polk County as a result of diseases caused by smoking.

Years of potential life lost annually from the effects of smoking: 830 years

In 2008, Polk County residents spent approximately $10.3 million on 2,520,000 packs of cigarettes.

Number of smokers: 2,053 (total population: 14,389)

Number of High School students who smoke: 172

Percentage of pregnant mothers who smoke: 24.6%

Number of lives lost due to smoking-related illnesses each year: 25

     (Smoking is believed to cause 25, or 15%, of the 170 deaths that occur in an average year)

Cost of Health Care and Lost Productivity due to smoking: $11.6 million

Rusk County lost $4.43 million annually in productivity costs because of illness and premature death directly associated with smoking.

In 2007, an estimated $7.19 million in health care costs were paid in Rusk County as a result of diseases caused by smoking.

Years of potential life lost annually from the effects of smoking: 330 years

In 2008, Rusk County residents spent approximately $3.3 million on 808,000 packs of cigarettes.

Number of smokers: 10,538 (total population: 82,487)

Number of High School students who smoke: 851

Percentage of pregnant mothers who smoke: 10%

Number of lives lost due to smoking-related illnesses each year: 68

     (Smoking is believed to cause 68, or 16%, of the 437 deaths that occur in an average year)

Cost of Health Care and Lost Productivity due to smoking: $65.2 million

St. Croix County lost $24.9 million annually in productivity costs because of illness and premature death directly associated with smoking.

In 2007, an estimated $40.3 million in health care costs were paid in St. Croix County as a result of diseases caused by smoking.

Years of potential life lost annually from the effects of smoking: 940 years

In 2008, Rusk County residents spent approximately $33.2 million on 8,110,000 packs of cigarettes.