Published: December 01, 2005
Smoking in New York Drops to All-Time Low
By Joseph Cherner
New York shows world recipe for success
The percentage of New Yorkers over eighteen who smoked dropped from 20.8 percent to 18.1 percent from 2003 to 2004 - an all-time low, according to a report from Tobacco-Free Kids, a Washington, D.C.-based health group.
Smoking among high school students has fallen as well - from 27 percent in 2000 to 18.5 percent in 2004, according to the state Health Department.
Success was achieved despite the fact that New York spends less than 3 percent of the $1.7 billion collected from tobacco taxes and a 1998 settlement with tobacco companies on smokefree programs.
"It just goes to show that money isn't the missing ingredient in tobacco control," says Joe Cherner, president of SmokeFree Educational Services, Inc. "New York's success is due to smokefree workplace legislation, cigarette taxes which require smokers to pay a fairer share of their health costs, and a compassionate government which offers free nicotine patches and a helpline."
Tobacco addiction is still estimated to cost society over $100 billion per year in health care and lost productivity.
To win clean indoor air where YOU live, go to www.smokefree.net/alerts.php
Search News
