How much does it cost to quit smoking?
Some 6 million people in Canada are smokers, and many of them wish they weren't. About two thirds of smokers say they'd like to quit and have tried at least once to break the habit.
For the few who go cold turkey, the costs of quitting may be minimal. Others can spend hundreds of dollars on gum, patches, inhalers, nicotine replacement systems and hypnosis.
Although costs vary, quitting generally costs about $150 a month, according to Dr. Michael Fiore, director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention. One-on-one counseling may add to the tab.
Some provinces now have subsidies for some people to cover smoking cessation programs.
Others, like B.C, pick up the tab for prescription meds. Often though, you're on your own although a friend of mine's insurance covered much of the cost of her smoking-cessation regimen.
Aside from the costs of cigarettes themselves, smokers pay much higher health insurance and life insurance premiums than non-smokers.
The resale value of their cars are reduced and the same goes for their houses. If your carpets, walls, and drapes smell of cigarette smoke, you can spend a fortune on cleaning before you can put the place up for sale.
How much have you spent when trying to quit smoking? Successful? Worthwhile? Permanent?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Posted by: SP | May 29, 2012 4:17:16 PM
For me, no cost because I never started. My father decided one day to stop and he did but we've been lucky
For some the cost of trying to quit is their lives. Zyban and other psychiatric drugs used in smoking cessation can induce suicidal thoughts in a sizable percentage of those using them.
Though I suppose a dead former smoker who's not smoking counts as smoking cessation success for the drug peddlars and doctors. Thus clearly worthwhile.
Posted by: Shane | May 30, 2012 8:35:27 PM
Considering 95% of people who've quit long term have done so by quitting "cold turkey", perhaps these sham "cessation" products should be removed from the market.
Hint: You do not break an addiction by feeding it (nicotine), but hey no one makes money off that!
Posted by: Craig | May 30, 2012 9:21:33 PM
Champix worked for me. I had smoked for over 30 years and have been off the evil weed for over 2.5 yrs now. Struggling to keep weight down but feel great and the money saved is a real bonus.
Posted by: Jack | May 30, 2012 10:44:38 PM
The cost to me for stopping smoking was $0. I just stopped. Simple. Cheap. That was 40 years ago, so yes, it was successful and PERMANENT!
Posted by: Maureen | May 30, 2012 11:27:46 PM
I quit 20 months ago after 53 years of smoking a large pack of cigarettes a day. I used Walmart's generic brand of the "patch" for 10 weeks. Much cheaper than the brand name and works better. Cost about $200. Should have done it years ago...didn't realize it would be so easy.