Just pisses me off (as an ex-smoker) that I vcan prescibe mathadone on NHS
but not nicotine replacement. AFAIK getting people off the weed is one of
the few significant health interventions you can make. Far more impact than
treating hypertension on which we spend a fortune in time and effort.
Paul Galloway
>Do we really need a study to answer this question?
>
>1. Tobacco tax reveues from smokers are far greater than the estimated cost
>of NHS treatment associated with smokers. Ergo, there is a very significant
>tax loss to HMG. I don't recall the figures exactly but it would leave a
gap
>of several billion pounds.
>
>2. If 'tobacco kills' as is claimed on packets and in very many studies
>doesn't it follow that the average longevity will increase if all smokers
>stopped UNLESS somehow stopping smoking exposed former smokers to some, as
>yet, unknown risk to which the non-smoking populace were not exposed.
>Possible, I suppose, but highly improbable.
>
>As a smoker I believe I have good grounds for being cynical enough to
accept
>your conclusion that 'people should not be subjected to an excessively
>paternalistic governmental anti-smoking campaign. ;-)'.
>
>Smoking is an addiction. I understand that it is, in the main, an addiction
>which can be cured (I do not know the effectiveness of such things as
>nicotine patches). TB became curable (excuse my ignorance if this is not
so)
>and in the 1950s national concerted campaigns rooted out its existence and
>eradicated it. I have always wondered why the same could not be done for
>smoking. OK I'm not arguing a direct parallel here because I realise
>once-cured smokers could start up again. The only reasons for there not
>having been concerted national campaigns are:
>
>1. Loss of tax revenue
>2. Strong lobbying by the tobacco industry
>3. Increased longevity would increase social security and health budgets.
>
>I believe the first two but I am doubtful of the third... I have a gut feel
>that the money saved in not having to treat smoking related illnesses would
>significantly compensate for increased budgets required elsewhere.
>
>Quite frankly the posturing of successive governments AND the tobacco
>industry over decades have a lot to answer for. I am not a whinger, I know
>it is in my control to stop, I don't have a chip on my shoulder... but be
>honest with yourselves and accept the fact that economically, from the
point
>of view of revenue via personal indirect taxes AND via corporation tax AND
>employment within the industry isn't it an attractive proposition to have
>millions of smokers?
>
>No? Well why doesn't HMG put OUR money where IT'S Mouth is? Don't answer
>that, it is rhetorical.
>
>It seems to me that the only time 'smoking' and 'curing' come together are
>in bacon and kippers.
>
>Graham
>
>
>
>>A question.
>>
>>When I was in Belfast at the Royal I was told that HMG had done a study
>>a while back that determined that a really effective anti-smoking
>>campaign would have two results:
>>1) A damaging loss of tobacco tax revenue and
>>2) since tobacco generally kills relatively quickly and young, a large
>>increase in demand on social services and NHS by longer lived elderly.
>>
>>Conclusion - people should not be subjected to an excessively
>>paternalistic governmental anti-smoking campaign. ;-)
>>
>>Since I've not seen a citation on this and my source (who was *not* at
>>the Royal) though well versed in health policy, had a somewhat cynical
>>attitude towards HMG, I have regarded the story with some skepticism. Am
>>I looking at a medical version of the 'urban myth' or does someone have
>>an idea as to whether such a study exists?
>>
>>Phil
>>
>>4 Bailey Hill Road
>>Natick, MA, 01760, USA
>>
>>[log in to unmask]
>>(508) 650-9097 - voice
>>(508) 650-9152 - fax
>>
>
>Graham P P Ride, Cybermetrix Ltd.
>Taskforce 2000 Associate
>Free y2k screensaver on our home page.
>Tel +44 (0)161 439 0480 - Fax +44 (0)161 439 1912
>Year 2000 services to Health & SMEs & maximising the benefits of the
Internet
>http://www.cybermetrix.co.uk
>
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