TAX: Effective to curb youth smoking

The North Idaho Tobacco Free Coalition works to prevent initiation of tobacco use among youth. Even with all the progress we’ve made, youth are still starting to smoke. More than 100 youth in Idaho will become new daily smokers this month. Kids are buying or smoking 3.1 million packs of cigarettes in our state each year.

Raising cigarette prices is one of the most effective ways to prevent and reduce smoking among youth. Increasing the cost of cigarettes will prevent 12,500 Idaho children from ever becoming addicted.

Not only is this a big win for Idaho’s youth, but a benefit to taxpaying households as well. Overall tobacco use currently costs Idaho $319 million a year in health care related costs. Every taxpaying household in the state is paying $539 annually toward state and federal tax burden from smoking-caused government expenditures.

It’s time for Idaho legislators to take the lead in preventing youth from ever starting to smoke by increasing the tobacco tax by at least $1.25.

CYNTHIA ROZYLA

North Idaho Tobacco Free Coalition

Panhandle Health District