Vienna smoking community: alert record numbers and health costs!

Vienna smoking community: alert record numbers and health costs!

On May 31, 2025, the World Nut Rauma Day is traditionally celebrated, and on the occasion of this event, a current study illuminates the alarming situation of smoking in Austria. Vienna has the highest rate in Austria with a smoking share of 30.4 percent. This represents a significant health challenge, especially since, according to the Viennese health statistics, over 8,500 people die from the consequences of smoking every year, which makes up for around 10 percent of all deaths OE24 reported.

Peter Hacker, the Viennese health city council, indicates the health risks of nicotine dependency and emphasizes the associated high costs for the health system. Smoking in Austria causes economic costs of a total of EUR 2.41 billion a year, of which around 630.5 million euros are paid to medical expenses. These figures illustrate the need for targeted prevention measures OE24 .

costs and consequences of smoking

The negative effect of smoking on quality of life and psychological well -being is undisputed. In international comparison, data show that the follow-up costs of smoking in Germany are around 97.24 billion euros annually medical newspaper . In Austria, too, the state could implement significant savings due to the decline in smoking numbers.

However, only a small number of smokers are ready to use existing support offers for smoking cessation. The importance of auxiliary offers such as behavioral therapy and drug support becomes all the clearer when you consider that around half a million Austrians are ready to overcome their smoke addiction OE24

The Institute for Addiction Prevention sees Austria well positioned in order to promote prevention and treatment of nicotine dependence through evidence -based programs. Lisa Brunner, the head of the institute, emphasizes that there is a lot of scope for improvements, especially in the context of the WHO framework conventions signed by Austria in 2005 to contain tobacco use OE24

global statistics support this argument: Smoking is not only an essential risk factor for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer, but also has far-reaching economic consequences. An estimated 15 percent of adults die from smoking -related diseases worldwide. In Germany, for example, every fourth adults smokes regularly, while more than 65 billion cigarettes are consumed annually Statista .