Quittin’ Time: Helping Employees Become Tobacco-freeJune 2005

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Facts

• Smoking reduces life span by an average of 12-14 years.

• Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States and is responsible for one in every five American deaths.

• Tobacco kills more Americans each year than alcohol, cocaine, crack, heroin, homicide, suicide, car accidents, fire and AIDS combined.

• More than 50 diseases have been linked to smoking including cancers, heart disease and lung disease.

• Each year, primarily because of exposure to secondhand smoke, an estimated 3,000 nonsmoking Americans die of lung cancer, and more than 35,000 die of heart disease.

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Business Impact

• The total excess costs to employers per smoker per year are an average of $5,606, broken down as follows:– smoking breaks: $1,882– mortality-related lost productivity: $1,760– excess medical expenditures: $1,623– missed work days due to sickness: $341

• Although there is evidence that smoking cessation programs can reduce costs and improve health, only 24% of employers cover tobacco-use treatment.

Companies that provide smoking cessation programs

have a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

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Nicotine Addiction

• Nicotine is the drug in tobacco that causes addiction.

• Nicotine is as addictive as heroin or cocaine.

• Each year only about three to five percent of smokers quit for a year, for longer or for good.

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Benefits of Quitting

• People who stop smoking before age 35 avoid 90% of the health risks attributable to tobacco. Even those who quit at age 65 can add years to their life.

• People who quit smoking before age 50 have half the risk of dying in the next 15 years compared with continuing smokers.

• Quitting smoking decreases the risk of lung cancer, other cancers, heart attack, stroke and chronic lung disease.

• Women who stop smoking before pregnancy or during the first three to four months of pregnancy reduce their risk of serious complications.

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Opportunity

More than 70% of current smokers

report that they want to quit smoking.

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Opportunity for Employers

“There are few preventive health interventions that are

more cost-effective than tobacco cessation.”

-- Warner, K., et. al. cited in Business & Health, Vol. 15, #8, Supplement A, Medical Economics

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Elements of Successful Cessation Programs

• Supportive counseling – emphasizing problem solving, behavior change and social support

• Nicotine replacement and medication – affordable, easy to obtain

• Communication – inform employees of available resources

• Incentives – may be provided in terms of reduced premium differentials, cash to a flexible spending account, even small

rewards or recognition for quitting tobacco use

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Elements of Successful Programs (cont.)

• Integrated approach – integrate disease management and wellness programs, company policies, health plans and other workplace programs with available supportive counseling

• No stigmatization of smokers – support employees in their efforts to become tobacco-free

• Ability to access interventions repeatedly – repeated interventions are often necessary; policies and programs should support this process

• A variety of resources – provide resources for individuals who are in various stages of readiness to quit

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Prevention Goals

• Influence tobacco users who have no desire to quit so that they consider the benefits of quitting

• Provide support and assistance to those tobacco users who want to quit

• Support former tobacco users in their efforts to remain tobacco-free

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Strategy• Enlist support of senior leadership to ensure visibility and attention

• Establish multi-functional workgroup

• Design program

• Craft and implement policy

• Assemble support for tobacco cessation

• Review employee benefits

• Communicate and promote prevention through a series of materials, in print and/or online

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Why Partner With the EAP?

• prevention focus

• assessment and referral capabilities

• education focus

• training capabilities

The ValueOptions EAP is uniquely positioned to partner in the implementation of tobacco cessation programs because of its:

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Service Options Offered by ValueOptions

• Standard EAP: Evaluation and screening, short-term brief counseling and motivational coaching, information and education, telephonic support, referral to public/community resources, follow-up

• Enhanced services: Telephone-based sessions with tobacco treatment specialists; Quit Kit of materials; access to nicotine-replacement products or medications

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Possible Measurements of Program Success

• Number of people recruited or actively participating in the tobacco cessation initiative

• Six-month and one-year quit rates

• Absenteeism rates

• Productivity

• Health costs

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Expected Results

• Decreased health care costs associated with tobacco use

• Increased referral rate to the EAP

• Enhanced productivity

• Reduced absenteeism due to tobacco-related illness

• Improved employee perception of employer commitment

• Benefits of program exceed costs within two years of implementation

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Next Steps

• Obtain approval to proceed with evaluating options

• Form multifunctional workgroup to study benefits, policies, supportive programming

• Establish timetable for reporting recommendations to senior management

• Obtain final approval to implement recommended plan

• Implement plan

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Sources

• American Cancer Society• American Journal of Public Health• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention• Free & Clear, Inc.• National Business Group on Health• National Cancer Institute• The New York State Smokers’ Quitsite