Tobacco and Tobacco Cessation
Why Employers Care
According to the World Health Organization, tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. Its use is one of the main risk factors for a number of chronic diseases, including cancer, lung diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Despite this, it is common around the globe. A number of countries have legislation restricting tobacco advertising, and regulating who can buy and use tobacco products, and where people can smoke.1
Large employers are extremely interested in eliminating tobacco use among employees in large part because its relationship to ill health and reduced productivity has been well documented. Tobacco cessation is commonly offered as a part of company sponsored health and wellness programs.
What Employers Can Do
Employers often use a health risk appraisal to determine risk factors that are relevant for the employee population. Determine the extent to which your employees are at risk. Additional action steps include:
- Select health plans that cover effective tobacco cessation treatment, including coverage for a variety of treatments.
- Offer quit line services to employees.
- Remove barriers such as co-payments, fees, and other deterrents that may inhibit employees from using benefits for treatment.
- Conduct ongoing communication with employees about the benefits of quitting and help that is available.
- Understand the environmental influences on tobacco use and address them with culturally sensitive approaches.
Global Health Benefits Institute Resources
- Reducing Tobacco Use: The Role of Business – July 17, 2007
CDC reviewed the tobacco epidemic, community preventive interventions, the role of business, and differences in tobacco-free policies across countries.
- Free & Clear's Global Business Solutions to Tobacco – July 17, 2007
Free & Clear discussed the challenges of global tobacco-free strategies, and the actions employers can take to advance tobacco cessation efforts.
- Smoking Cessation: Act Locally, Think Globally – April 26, 2007
Johns Hopkins University presented global tobacco use statistics and patterns. The presentation also reviewed the costs of smoking, and the cost-effectiveness and benefits of tobacco cessation. It has a strong emphasis on the U.S.
1 WHO. Tobacco Free Initiative. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2007
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