Smoke Free Now

Press release:

The U.S. Surgeon General’s 32nd Report on Smoking and Health, to be released later this month, provides new findings on the health effects of smoking along with a call to end the continuing tobacco-use epidemic. The Surgeon General says tobacco marketing is a cause of tobacco use.

The report will highlight the 50th anniversary of the first Smoking and Health report released in January 1964. It was the first to inform the American public that smoking is a cause of lung cancer in men.

“It is hard to believe that we are still fighting this deadly product 50 years later,” said Kyla McCormick, program coordinator for Reality Check in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties. “We’ve made tremendous progress, but we must continue to tackle the enormous financial and health burden that tobacco use causes our community.”

In New York, tobacco use remains the leading cause of premature death and disease, with the highest smoking rates among the poorest New Yorkers who disproportionally suffer the deadly consequences of tobacco use.

New York Director of Public Health, Paul A. Pettit and local tobacco control advocates Smoke Free NOW and Reality Check are drawing attention today to the tremendous health and financial burden caused by tobacco use in our local communities.

New York State is a leader in tobacco control with strong clean indoor air laws, the highest tobacco taxes in the nation; smoke-free outdoor laws, youth prevention initiatives, and cessation programs that together have led to substantial reductions in smoking rates among adults and youth. However, more than 25,000 New Yorkers still die every year due to tobacco use.

“New Yorkers earning less than $25,000 per year and those who report poor mental health are still smoking at significantly higher rates that the rest of the population and helping them quit remains an uphill battle,” Pettit said. “We need to ensure effective resources continue to be available to protect youth from ever starting, and to help those most vulnerable to smoking (people with lower income and reporting poor mental health) successfully quit.”

In New York State, the smoking rate for middle-school students has declined to 3.1 percent and the smoking rate for high school students has declined to 11.9 percent. The adult smoking rate has been reduced to 16.2 percent, but is much higher in some parts of the state. In Genesee and Orleans counties, the smoking rate remains at 18.7 and 29.9 percent respectively; higher than the state average.

“Research has shown the poorest New Yorkers have the highest smoking rates and as a result suffer more deadly illnesses due to tobacco use,” said Kevin Keenan, project director for Smoke Free NOW; a program of Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.

Furthermore, some counties in Upstate New York have higher than average lung cancer rates largely driven by higher than average smoking rates. The American Lung Association has estimated that if no one in the United States smoked, one-third of all cancer deaths could be avoided.

The New York State Tobacco Control Program effectively reduces tobacco use, saves lives and saves money. The Department of Health estimates that approximately 35 percent of the total decline in adult smoking is attributable to youth prevention strategies. The significant reduction in smoking among young adults will reduce future health care costs by approximately $5 billion.

For more information contact Smoke Free NOW at 585-815-1875 or Reality Check at 585-344-3960.

At least when it comes to a decrease in smoking rates, California is well ahead of New York and that has grabbed the attention of Smoke Free NOW.

This organization in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties is eyeing the Golden State in an effort to match or exceed the results of a tobacco study recently released by California's Department of Public Health.

It shows Californians are smoking less than most other Americans -- and this is no doubt making a difference in their health and wallets. In 2010, 13.1 Californians reported smoking, trailing only Utah, compared to 20.6 percent nationally and 18 percent in New York.

“The key to their success is twofold,” says Kevin Keenan, local program coordinator for Smoke Free NOW. “California has adopted strong anti-smoking laws in public places and increased the tax on cigarettes; both have contributed to the drop in smoking.”

Health officials maintain that California’s sustained anti-smoking campaign has led not only to lower smoking rates, but also to public health benefits. They point out lung cancer rates are going down more than three times as fast in California than the rest of the country, and the state has saved an estimated $86 billion in health care costs.

New York has also witnessed declines in smoking; however, without adequate funding for tobacco-control programs, smoking levels won’t decline further but will more likely taper off at current levels; or worse, increase to levels seen 20 ago.

“It’s imperative that we continue the fight against the tobacco industry’s crafty marketing tactics,” says Angela Barbeau, coordinator for Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming Reality Check, the youth component of the state's Tobacco Control Program.

“The only way to see marked declines in New York’s smoking rate is to ensure that our programs are sufficiently funded so that we can continue with our media campaigns, community events and educational activities."

Kevin J. Keenan, program coordinator Smoke Free Now in Genesee County, sent along this news release today.

On Thursday, State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D., urged New Yorkers to quit smoking rather than pay the additional $1.60 per pack state cigarette tax increase that takes effect today.

With the increase in effect, the tax on a pack of cigarettes will rise to $4.35 per pack and $5.85 a pack in New York City – the highest cigarette taxes in the nation.

This tax continues New York's national leadership in the fight against tobacco use, the No. 1 cause of preventable death in the United States. A pack of cigarettes will now cost more than $10 in New York City and more than $8 across the rest of the State.

"This tax increase should be the motivation smokers need to give up this deadly addiction for good," Commissioner Daines said. "The health benefits of quitting smoking are undeniable.

"Smokers who quit are at a lower risk of developing smoking-related heart disease and suffering from strokes, cancer and emphysema. If you smoke, now is the time to talk to your doctor or call the New York State Smokers' Quitline."

The Quitline offers free services to help people stop smoking, including nicotine patches, coaching, quit plans, information and free online help. To access the Quitline, call 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) or visit www.nysmokefree.com.

Taxes will also increase for other tobacco products, such as smokeless tobacco products and cigars, from 46 percent to 75 percent of the wholesale price.

Increases in tobacco taxes are expected to prevent 170,500 New York kids from becoming smokers, motivate 86,100 adult smokers to quit and save 77,000 New Yorkers from premature, smoking-related deaths.

The increased tax will also save $4.8 billion in future health care costs and raise $290 million in 2010-11 in state revenues.

"This is a win-win for the health of New York State," Daines said. "Fewer adults and children will use deadly tobacco products and the state will generate revenues to help sustain important programs and services."

"Smoking is not a habit," said Jeffrey Willett, director of the state's Tobacco Control Program. "It's an addiction, and it's hard to quit. The State Health Department's Smokers' Quitline provides free services that increase the likelihood that a smoker will quit for good."

Smoking Facts

• On average, smokers die 14 years younger than non-smokers.
• Smoking increases a person's risk of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and other cancers.
• Secondhand smoke also causes heart disease and cancer, and contributes to asthma and other respiratory illness.
• Infants with a parent who smokes are more likely to die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
• Babies and children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to have asthma, bronchitis, ear infections and pneumonia.
• Smokers who quit rapidly lower their risk of heart disease and stroke, and steadily reduce their risk of lung cancer.

Tips on Quitting

• Set a quit date and mark it on your calendar. Get rid of ashtrays, lighters and cigarettes.
• Visit your doctor for support and advice with your quit plan.
• Make a list of reasons why you want to quit.
• Make a list of family and friends who will support you.
• Avoid triggers, including alcohol, caffeine and other smokers.
• Exercise to relieve stress, and to improve your mood and health.
• Consider using a safe nicotine alternative such as replacement patches, gum or lozenges.

For help quitting smoking call the New York State Smokers' Quitline at 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) or visit <www.nysmokefree.com>.