The Economics of Quitting: What It Costs to Stop Smoking—and Who Can Afford It
Quitting smoking costs money: NRT, prescription medications, counseling, vaping products. The costs are modest compared to continued smoking—but they're upfront, and the upfront barrier excludes the poor. The economics of quitting are stacked against the disadvantaged.
A smoker who wants to quit with varenicline needs a doctor's visit ($100-200 without insurance), a prescription, and a month of medication ($50-500 depending on coverage). A smoker who wants to quit with NRT needs $30-50 for a two-week supply. A smoker who wants to quit with vaping needs $30-50 for a device. **The upfront costs are modest—but they're still more than the $10 for a pack of cigarettes. The smoker who lives paycheck to paycheck can afford the cigarettes. They can't afford to quit.**
