Which of the following statements about the societal costs of tobacco use is TRUE?

A. Tobacco use affects the tax rate of only those individuals who smoke.

B. The negative effects of tobacco use are only experienced by the smoker.

C. Tobacco users contribute to an overall loss of productivity.

D. Increased healthcare costs are mainly absorbed by tobacco users.

Answer:

C. Tobacco users contribute to an overall loss of productivity.

Explanation:

Tobacco use has wide-reaching societal impacts beyond the individual smoker. Here's why option C is the correct and true statement:

Let’s review why the other options are incorrect:

❌ Incorrect — The healthcare costs and loss of productivity from tobacco use often lead to increased insurance premiums and public healthcare expenses that impact society at large, not just smokers.

❌ Incorrect — Secondhand smoke harms non-smokers, and the societal costs (healthcare, insurance, lost productivity) affect the general population.

❌ Incorrect — While tobacco users do pay some costs, much of the burden falls on public health systems and insurance pools, affecting everyone.