N.Y., butt in and fund the program

Sunday, October 3, 2010
Letter to the Editor
Times Union

The Times Union recently reported that according to the Centers for Disease Control, the rates of tobacco use in 2009 have remained the same at 21 percent for adults and 20 percent for teen smoking. The sad news is teen smokers continue to line up daily to replace the 400,000 smokers who die every year from a smoking-related disease.

When adequately funded, comprehensive state tobacco prevention programs quickly and substantially reduce tobacco use, save lives and cut smoking-caused costs. But states are not spending enough on tobacco control and, therefore, the rates stay the same.

New York spends more on tobacco control than most states and its smoking rates are lower than the national average. But, the funding for tobacco control and prevention is still well below what the CDC recommends New York should spend.

The $4.35-a-pack excise tax in New York will generate $440 million a year of revenue. Less than 2 percent of this is being spent on tobacco control.

Step up to the plate, New York, and set an example. Fund the tobacco control program at no less than half of what the CDC recommends. Not only will thousands of lives be saved but the investment will pay big dividends by dramatically reducing health care costs.

Peggy Keigley
Director, Center for Smoking Cessation at Seton Health
Albany