No Tobacco Month: A Collective Challenge That Saves Lives and Reduces Costs

Every year, No Tobacco Month mobilizes thousands of smokers across France to encourage them to quit smoking for 30 days. Inspired by the British Stoptober campaign, the initiative aims to reduce the prevalence of smoking, the leading cause of preventable premature death in the country. In 2015, tobacco was responsible for 13,100,000 deaths in France, and its social cost reached 156 billion euros in 2019[1].

A largely favorable return on investment

According to a study conducted by Public Health France in collaboration with the OECD[2], No Tobacco Month is not only beneficial for public health, but also economically advantageous. Between 2016 and 2020, an estimated 2 million attempts to quit smoking were directly linked to this campaign, with a participation rate of daily smokers ranging from 2.5 % to 4.8 % per year.

By 2050, projections show that the initiative would prevent:

• 241,000 cases of lower respiratory infections;
• 28,000 cases of cancer attributable to tobacco;
• 18,000 cases of cardiovascular disease.

This success is not limited to health. Over the period 2023-2050, No Tobacco Month could save €94 million per year in health costs and improve employment and productivity by €85 million per year. With an annual cost of €12.5 million, this campaign offers a return on investment of €7 for every €1 invested, or even €14 if we include the consequences on the labor market.[3].

An effective and structured approach

No Tobacco Month is based on a social marketing model. The 30-day quit threshold is strategic: it corresponds to a period at the end of which withdrawal symptoms decrease significantly, increasing the chances of quitting for good by five. In addition to awareness campaigns, concrete tools are made available to participants: consultations with professionals, quit kits and support via applications such as Tabac Info Service[4].

Since its launch in 2016, more than 1.34 million French people have registered for this operation. For example, 20 % of the participants were still non-smokers six months after quitting, according to a barometer by Public Health France[5].

Results that call for increased continuity

Smoking remains a major public health challenge, with a daily smoking rate of 24.5% among 18-75 year-olds in 2022. While the figures for No Tobacco Month are encouraging, experts point out that its effects could be amplified with better inclusion of the most vulnerable populations, particularly people with disabilities or those in great precariousness.[6].

The OECD and Santé publique France point out that this type of operation helps to promote the health of populations, while protecting the healthcare system. Maintaining and strengthening No Tobacco Month is therefore essential to continue to reduce health inequalities and the costs associated with smoking.

©Tobacco Free Generation

RK

[1] https://www.lequotidiendumedecin.fr/actu-medicale/sante-publique/mois-sans-tabac-les-personnes-en-situation-de-handicap-intellectuel-un-public-peu-sensible-la (accessed 11/13/2024)

[2] Devaux, M. et al. (2023), “Evaluation of the National Tobacco Control Programme in France”, OECD Health Working Papers, no. 155, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/b656e9ac-fr. (accessed 11/13/2024)

[3] Guignard R, Devaux M, Nguyen-Thanh V, Lerouge A, Dorfmuller Ciampi M, Cecchini M, et al. Health and economic evaluation of No Tobacco Month: a positive return on investment. Bull Epidemiol Hebd. 2024;(22):492-8. http://beh.santepubliquefrance.fr/beh/2024/22/2024_22_1.html (accessed 11/13/2024)

[4] https://www.generationsanstabac.org/fr/fiches/mois-sans-tabac-utilisation-du-marketing-social-dans-la-lutte-antitabac/ (accessed 11/13/2024)

[5] https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/revues/articles-du-mois/2019/de-stoptober-a-mois-sans-tabac-comment-importer-une-campagne-de-marketing-social (accessed 11/13/2024)

[6] Ben Lakhdar C, Massin S, Ngugen S, for the regional delegation of Nous Aussi. Tobacco consumption and vaping among people with intellectual disabilities: a survey in Hauts-de-France. Bull Epidémiol Hebd. 2024;(22):498-505. http://beh.santepubliquefrance.fr/beh/2024/22/2024_22_2.html (accessed 11/13/2024)