Smoking costs Rotherham’s economy over £80 million

Image: Tyler Ewens

Unemployment, reduced productivity and smoking-related deaths cost the local economy £81.3 million, a review has found. 

David Roche, cabinet member for adult social care and health Councillor said in a cabinet meeting this week that smoking has resulted in economic loss, including £30.4 in productivity levels, £43m in smoking-related unemployment and £7.9m in smoking-related deaths. 

In the Tobacco Control Review commissioned by the Rotherham Borough Council, smoking is listed as “the single greatest contributor to the total burden of disease in Rotherham”.

Rotherham’s Tobacco Control Work Plan aims to see the city smoke-free (when 5% or less of adults smoke) by 2030, in line with the government’s smokefree ambition . 

Councillor Roche said: “We’re set to miss the 2030 target which will mean Rotherham will have the highest smoking prevalence in South Yorkshire.

“We need to change and need to refocus our targets.”

In 2021, 16.9% of Rotherham adults were smokers, compared to the 13% national average. 

According to the report, the current projections estimate smoking prevalence in Rotherham to be 10.2% by 2030, more than double the national aim.  

As such, reallocation of funds, among other things, have been recommended in order to address the issue but its effectiveness has been questioned. 

Tyler Ewens, 21, Kitchen team member said of the recommendations: “It does not completely fix the issue. Instead it raises the probability of drug use within our community. 

“Smoking helps me concentrate when I’m doing long hours of work. I’m not addicted but I’m definitely not open to switching to vaping.’’

Councillor Roche said: “Investment in tobacco control is highly cost effective. Every pound spent on smoking cessation services is estimated to deliver a £10 saving in future health care cost.” 

The main element being ‘Quit for Good’ which aims to encourage smokers to permanently quit smoking.

As well as ‘Stop the start’ which aims to reduce the amount of people taking up smoking mainly within the younger generation.