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NEW YORK – The American Lung Association’s “State of Tobacco Control” report found that in 2016 New York failed to do enough to implement proven-effective policies that would save lives.
The 15th annual report grades states and the federal government on policies
to prevent and reduce tobacco use. The report shows that most states and
the federal government earned poor grades.
Jeffrey Seyler, president and CEO, American Lung Association of the Northeast, said while cigarette use may be down, overall use of smoking products, including e-cigarettes, hookahs and other alternatives, remains high. One in four high school students still use some form of tobacco.
That, Seyler said, is reason enough for state lawmakers to get involved.
“It’s going to take stronger tobacco policy to save lives and prevent another generation of youth from becoming addicted to tobacco,” Seyler said. “We have a long way to go to achieve these goals and unfortunately in New York, we’re not going nearly enough. In this year’s State of Tobacco report, New York Received an “A” for smoke-free air and a “B” for our tobacco taxes. What continues to cause us the most concern and what thwarts our overall effort to save lives is the “F” grade New York receives for tobacco prevention and control funding.”
Governor Cuomo’s budget proposal includes level funding for the tobacco control program.
ALA Director of National Policy, Thomas Carr, said they are asking state legislature to increase funding by $3 million, to $52 million.
They also want New Yorkers to have easier access to federally recommended cessation tools.
“And that they also cover counseling benefits and make sure that those are available to New Yorkers without barriers like co-pays,” Carr said.
The American Lung Association of the Northeast calls on New York State to act to increase the age of sale for all tobacco products to 21; restore statewide funding for tobacco prevention and cessation efforts; and pass the proposals found within Governor Cuomo’s executive budget proposal to treat e-cigarettes the same as other tobacco products, which would include restricting their use in places where smoking is restricted; require retailers to register, and a new tax on the products.
One spot of hope on the report shows the state did make some progress in the access to cessation services category where the state moved last year’s grade of an “F” to a “D.”
