by Mukhtar Ahmad Qureshi
Smoking harms health, drains finances, and damages well-being. Beyond personal loss, it burdens families, healthcare systems, and the environment. Quitting is not just vital—it’s a shared responsibility for a healthier future.
Smoking does not just burn tobacco; it burns your health, drains your wealth, and darkens your wellbeing. The true cost is paid in breaths, bills, and broken dreams.
Each cloud of cigarette smoke may seem insignificant—a momentary act, a stress reliever, or even a symbol of social identity. But behind this fleeting gratification lies a harsh and enduring truth. Smoking remains one of humanity’s most destructive habits. Its cost goes far beyond the price of a cigarette pack. It erodes health, eats into finances, and corrodes the quality of life. On this World No Tobacco Day 2025, it is more important than ever to ask ourselves what smoking truly costs, and why quitting is not merely a personal choice—it is a pressing public health responsibility.
The damage smoking inflicts on health is slow, pervasive, and often irreversible. Tobacco remains the leading preventable cause of death worldwide. Every year, over eight million lives are lost due to smoking, including more than 1.3 million non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke. This is equivalent to wiping out the population of a major city annually. Lung cancer, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes are all directly linked to smoking. It also causes severe oral health issues, including gum disease and mouth cancer.
Pregnant women who smoke risk bearing underweight or deformed babies or facing stillbirth. Children growing up in smoke-filled homes are more prone to respiratory infections, asthma, and developmental delays. And yet, the body begins to repair itself the moment smoking stops. Within twenty minutes, blood pressure starts to return to normal. Within a day, the risk of a heart attack begins to decline. In a year, the chances of coronary heart disease are halved. However, the longer the addiction persists, the harder it becomes to undo the harm.
The economic cost of smoking is equally staggering. In India, a single packet of cigarettes costs about Rs 300. A pack-a-day habit amounts to Rs 9,000 a month, or Rs 1.08 lakh a year. Over two decades, that adds up to over Rs 20 lakh, and this figure doesn’t account for inflation or premium brands. That’s just the cost of the cigarettes themselves. Smokers also bear the burden of frequent and expensive healthcare, often paying lakhs for surgeries, cancer treatment, or hospitalisation. Smokers also fall ill more often, miss work, and sometimes die prematurely, all of which translates into lost income and productivity. Cigarette-related accidental fires remain one of the top causes of domestic fires around the world, adding to the financial risk.
Governments shoulder a colossal healthcare burden. In India, tobacco-related illnesses cost the public exchequer more than Rs 1.8 lakh crore annually, far more than what the state earns through taxes on tobacco products. In lower-income households, smoking often takes precedence over essentials like food, education, or medical care, creating a vicious cycle of poverty and disease.
Even if smoking does not lead to fatal disease, it steadily chips away at well-being. Smokers frequently complain of poor sleep, reduced stamina, sluggish mental performance, and increased stress. Contrary to popular belief, smoking does not relieve stress, it only satisfies nicotine withdrawal temporarily. Research shows that people who quit smoking often report lower anxiety, improved mood, better taste and smell, and a more youthful appearance. Their sense of control over their lives improves. Relationships, too, suffer when smoking is involved. Family members, particularly children and spouses, often feel anxious, neglected, or repelled by the habit. In many places, smoking leads to social isolation as it is frowned upon or outright banned. The environment also pays a heavy price. Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the world. Tobacco cultivation leads to deforestation, soil erosion, and pesticide pollution. Smoking doesn’t just destroy the smoker—it contributes to large-scale environmental damage.
The solution lies in a comprehensive strategy rooted in education, policy, and support. Schools and colleges must make tobacco awareness part of the everyday conversation, especially among youth, who are most vulnerable to social pressure. Smoking should be exposed for what it is: not a symbol of style, but a threat to life and dignity. Governments must enforce stricter anti-tobacco regulations, raising taxes, banning advertisements, increasing smoke-free zones, and making graphic health warnings on cigarette packets more impactful. For those who want to quit, support must be accessible and robust. Nicotine replacement therapies, counselling, quitlines, and mobile apps can make a real difference. Families should encourage and celebrate every step towards quitting, offering support instead of judgment.
The true cost of smoking cannot be counted in rupees alone. It robs individuals of years of life, love from relationships, and peace from households. On this World No Tobacco Day, we must collectively choose life over addiction, strength over dependence, and lasting health over momentary gratification. Whether you are a smoker, a teacher, a policymaker, or a concerned family member, your role is vital in building a tobacco-free world.
The real question we must ask ourselves is this: Can we afford not to quit?
(The writer is a teacher, author, and columnist based in Boniyar, Baramulla. Ideas are personal.)
