Leading the charge against the dangers and risks of tobacco and nicotine in Virginia is the Tobacco Control Program (TCP) at the Virginia Department of Health. The goal of the program is to reduce premature death, disease, disability and the economic burden related to tobacco use and/or exposure to second-hand smoke by:
- Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People
- Eliminating Nonsmokers' Exposure to Secondhand Smoke
- Promoting Quitting Among Adults and Young People
- Identifying and Eliminating Tobacco Related Disparities
Each component of the TCP is developed and implemented based on evidence-based strategies outlined in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Best Practices and Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs.
Smoking remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States, killing more than 480,000 Americans each year. More than 41,000 of these deaths are from exposure to secondhand smoke.
In Virginia, the cost of tobacco use is substantial. About 10,300 adults die each year from smoking, 1,600 non-smokers die each year due to second hand smoke, and 6,900 children have lost a parent to smoking related death. Given current smoking levels, 152,000 kids living today will ultimately die of smoking.
The financial burden is also staggering. In Virginia, annual healthcare costs directly caused by tobacco use are $3.61 billion. Our state and federal taxes allocated to cover smoking related cost is $861 per household.