An Assessment of the Economic Cost of Smoking in Ireland

'An Assessment of the Economic Cost of Smoking in Ireland' is the report on a study which was carried out for the Department of Health in the Republic of Ireland.  A large body of evidence exists on the relationship between smoking and health conditions.  In total, 41 conditions with a causal relationship with smoking were identified.  However, looking beyond the direct effects on human health, the review also found evidence of a variety of impacts that smoking has on wider society.  It is estimated that, in 2013, 5,950 premature deaths could be attributed to smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke, along with over 200,000 hospital episodes.  The total cost to the health service was estimated to be over €460 million, while the total estimated cost of lost productivity was over €1 billion.  Download a PDF copy of the report at: www.health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/An-assessment-of-the-economic-cost-of-smoking-in-Ireland.pdf