A recent report by the Norwegian Directorate of Health has quantified the financial burden of smoking on society, estimating its annual cost at 120 billion kroner, with an extra 12 billion kroner incurred from the effects of passive smoking. The report highlights that each daily smoker imposes a cost between 82,000 kroner and 114,000 kroner on society annually, reflecting losses in population welfare, productivity, and the strain on health and social care resources.

Health Director Cathrine M. Lofthus emphasized that the societal costs of smoking are significant and that implementing effective smoking cessation measures could result in substantial savings. With healthcare costs related to diseases from both direct and passive smoking estimated at around 17 billion kroner for 2021, the report reinforces the argument that aiding smokers in quitting not only benefits individual health but is also economically advantageous for society as a whole.

The findings call for urgent action to address smoking-related health issues as a means to improve public health and reduce economic waste. By targeting smoking cessation programs, the Norwegian government could potentially alleviate the financial strain on its healthcare system and enhance overall societal well-being.