As mid-January tests New Year’s resolutions across the region, many may be weakening in their resolve. Certainly that must include some who vowed this is the year to give up smoking. To add a little incentive to the effort, WalletHub took a look at the true cost of tobacco use. The dollar amounts are eye-opening for the 46 million people in the U.S. who still use tobacco.

Total lifetime cost per smoker in Ohio was estimated to be $3,538,844. In West Virginia, the figure is $3,210,116.

Think about that for a moment — particularly given that those who live in rural areas and have lower incomes are statistically more likely to be smokers.

For the Buckeye State, the out-of-pocket cost over a lifetime is $154,877, the financial opportunity cost is $2,625,464, the health care cost per smoker is $169,669, income loss per smoker is $578,794, and other costs per smoker amount to $10,040.

For Mountain State residents, the out-of-pocket cost over a lifetime is $143,138, the financial opportunity cost is $2,426,475, the health care cost per smoker is $154,154, income loss per smoker is $477,075, and other costs per smoker is $9,273.

To determine financial opportunity cost, WalletHub calculated the return on investment if the out-of-pocket cost had instead been invested in the stock market over the same period.

“Previous studies have shown that smoking can lead to loss of income, either because of absenteeism, workplace bias or lower productivity due to smoking-related health problems,” WalletHub wrote, regarding the income loss figure. “This can create a wage gap between smokers and nonsmokers.”

Other costs included loss of insurance credits and cost for victims of second-hand smoke exposure.

“Buying cigarettes for your entire adult life can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars, but that number pales in comparison to the hidden costs of smoking,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “Over a lifetime, smokers lose out on millions of dollars they could have made if they’d invested the money they spent on tobacco. Smokers also tend to have lower wages, higher health care costs and higher home insurance premiums.”

Yet nearly 25% of adults still smoke in West Virginia and 21% do in Ohio. On the other side of the spectrum, Utah and California have the lowest smoking rates — below 10%. Lifetime out-of-pocket cost for smokers in Utah is $162,235. In California, it is $192,720. It is a no brainer that increasing the taxes on tobacco products will lower the number of products sold and consumed.

Yet lawmakers so willing to tackle many other things THEY deem harmful are still timid when it comes to facing big tobacco or supporting prevention campaigns and cessation programs.

That isn’t just costing us money. It’s killing us.