Yanis Darras / Photo credit: Credits: Philippe Huguen / AFP” data-image-id “56530689-2”
4.14pm, November 12, 2024
Who says November, says tobacco-free month. Since the beginning of the month, smokers have been invited to go without cigarettes for a month on the occasion of the 9th edition of Tobacco Free Month, this operation implemented since 2016 to fight against smoking. Because despite the increase in the price of the pack in recent years and prevention campaigns, the number of smokers remains high in France. At the end of 2022, there were still nearly 12 million cigarette consumers.
Thousands of cancers avoided…
As a result, tobacco remains the leading cause of death in France, with nearly 75,000 deaths attributable each year. But the picture is not entirely negative, since according to a study by Public Health France published this Tuesday, the Tobacco Free Month program would have a largely positive impact.
Thus, if this operation is maintained until 2050, this would prevent nearly 28,000 cancers during this period. An important figure, and which is not the only benefit to note. Thus, projections carried out by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), note that the tobacco-free month also makes it possible to avoid nearly 210,000 cases of musco-skeletal disorders (which lead in particular to pain in the wrist, in shoulder etc. editor’s note), 18,000 cardiovascular diseases, 8,000 cases of dementia and 4,000 cases of diabetes.
…And millions of euros saved
More importantly, this saves the equivalent of nearly 12 years of life without potential disability, for every 100,000 inhabitants. And the benefit is also financial, since the positive consequences of the tobacco-free month make it possible to save on average nearly 94 million euros per year. In addition, there is also a gain in productivity of former smokers estimated at nearly 85 million euros per year.
In return, the organization (advertising campaign etc.) around tobacco-free month costs on average 12.5 million euros. A “largely favorable” return on investment, notes Santé Publique France, which ensures that the order of magnitude is “14 euros for 1 euro invested”.
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