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Increasing the Unit Price for Tobacco Products

An Effective Practice

Description

A systematic review of published studies, conducted on behalf of the Task Force on Community Preventive Services by a team of experts, found that interventions to increase the unit price for tobacco products are effective both in reducing the number of people who start using tobacco and in increasing the number who quit. Based on this review, the Task Force recommends that this strategy be implemented on the basis of strong evidence of effectiveness.

Goal / Mission

The goal of this review was to determine whether increasing the unit price for tobacco products is an effective strategy for reducing the overall use of those products.

Results / Accomplishments

In seven of eight studies reviewed, increases in the price of tobacco products resulted in decreases in both the number of people who use tobacco and the quantity they consume. The median estimates from the reviewed studies suggest that a 10% increase in the price of tobacco products will result in a 3.7% decrease in the number of adolescents who use tobacco and 4.1% decrease in the amount of tobacco used by the general population. Price increases reviewed were effective among a variety of adolescents and young adults in the United States. Increases in the price of tobacco products also reduce tobacco use in older adults.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Task Force on Community Preventive Services
Primary Contact
Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, MBA
Community Guide Branch
NCHM
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd., NE,
Mailstop K-95
Atlanta, GA 30333
(770) 488-8590
CommunityGuide@cdc.gov
http://www.thecommunityguide.org/
Topics
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Health / Adolescent Health
Organization(s)
Task Force on Community Preventive Services
Date of publication
11/10/2000
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Children, Adults
Additional Audience
Smokers

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