Governor Announces NY’s Anti-Smoking Successes Outpace Nation

Independent Report Finds ‘New York’s Tobacco Control Program is Successful
State Dedicates $5.8 Million in New Funding to Support Anti-Smoking Initiatives

STATE OF NEW YORK
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER
GEORGE E. PATAKI, GOVERNOR

Press Office
518-474-8418
212-681-4640
http://www.ny.gov

FOR RELEASE IMMEDIATE

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Governor George E. Pataki today announced that the second annual independent evaluation of New York’s anti-smoking and tobacco control program demonstrates that smoking is on the decline in New York and that teenage smoking is being reduced at a pace that exceeds the national average. In addition, the Governor also announced that $5.8 million in new funding has been awarded to community-based organizations statewide to advance programs to counter pro-tobacco advertisements and help smokers quit.

The 2005 Annual Independent Evaluation of New York’s Tobacco Control Program found significant declines in adult and youth cigarette use statewide in 2004. The report also noted a steady decrease in the public’s exposure to second-hand smoke; and, specifically, a reduction in the prevalence of high school students smoking cigarettes statewide – representing steeper declines than national trends show in these areas.

“New York’s progress in promoting anti-smoking initiatives has been significant and we are pleased with the latest data highlighted in the independent evaluation report that shows declines in a number of key areas,” Governor Pataki said. “We remain vigilant in our commitment to helping smokers quit, further reducing the public’s exposure to second-hand smoke, and making our children aware of the dangers associated with smoking.”

New York has committed nearly $230 million since 2000 to prevent and reduce tobacco use. In addition, strong laws including the historic Clean Indoor Air Act (CIAA) and increases in the cigarette excise tax have impacted the use of tobacco products by New Yorkers.

The independent evaluation report was prepared by the Tobacco Use Research Program at Research Triangle Institute (RTI) of North Carolina. RTI was selected through a competitive bidding process to conduct an independent evaluation of the New York Tobacco Control Program (NYTCP) from 2003 through 2007.

State Health Commissioner Antonia C. Novello, M.D, M.P.H., Dr.P.H said, “This independent review recognizes the success we’ve had in advancing anti-smoking and tobacco control initiatives in New York State and the real progress we’ve made to prevent smoking and help smokers quit. While we are pleased with the report finding our efforts to be ‘highly functioning (and) productive,’ we will nevertheless continue to find ways to make the program even better.”

 
Evaluation Report Highlights for New York State:

• Adult cigarette use declined from 20.8 percent in 2003 to an all-time low of 18.1 percent in 2004, compared to a national reduction from 21.6 percent to 20.9 percent, over the same time period.
• Cigarette use among high school students declined from 27.1 percent to 18.5 percent from 2000 to 2004 (an overall decline of 32 percent), while nationally the high school smoking rate dropped more gradually from 28 percent to 20.3 percent (an overall decline of 27.5 percent over the same five-year period.)
• Exposure to second-hand smoke among nonsmoking adults has declined at a significant pace since the enactment of the CIAA, dropping from approximately 3.8 hours per week before the law went into effect to 1.5 hours per week in 2004.
• Exposure to second-hand smoke among middle and high school students declined from 2.2 to 1.8 days per week and from 2.7 to 2.3 days per week, respectively, from 2002 through 2004.
The 2005 report also notes several important improvements the State Health Department’s Tobacco Control Program has made since last year’s findings were issued, including expending a greater proportion of available resources and substantially improving media and counter-marketing efforts.

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In addition to the release of the independent evaluation findings, 31 organizations were awarded nearly $3.3 million in funding to provide resources and support to schools around the state seeking to develop and implement effective tobacco-free school policies. The 31 organizations awarded funding under this initiative, include:

NORTHEAST

BOCES – Albany $ 95,000
BOCES – Mid-South Student Support Services Center $125,000
BOCES – Schenectady $ 95,000
Catholic Charities of Fulton County $ 95,000
Champlain Valley Education Services $125,000
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County $ 95,000
QUESTAR III, Board of Cooperative Educational Services $ 95,000
Seton Health System $ 95,000

CENTRAL

BOCES – Cayuga, Oswego $ 95,000
BOCES – Madison $ 95,000
BOCES – Onondaga $ 95,000
BOCES – Oneida, Herkimer, Madison $125,000
BOCES – Tompkins, Seneca, Tioga $ 95,000
BOCES Mid-South Student Support Services Center $ 95,000
Mountain View Prevention Services $ 95,000
Seaway Valley Prevention Council $ 95,000

WESTERN

BOCES Mid-South Student Support Services Center/SCT BOCES $ 95,000
(Chemung, Schuyler, Yates)
Division of Community Youth Development and Student Support - $125,000
(Chautauqua, Cattaraugus)
Division of Community Youth Development and Student Support - Erie $125,000
Division of Community Youth Development and Student Support - Niagara $ 95,000
Genesee Valley BOCES $125,000
(Allegany, Wyoming, Genesee, Orleans)
Genesee Valley BOCES - Monroe $ 95,000
Genesee Valley BOCES (Ontario, Seneca, Wayne) $125,000
Student Support Services Center (Livingston, Steuben) $ 95,000

HUDSON VALLEY

Community Awareness Network for a Drug-Free Life and Environment, Inc. $ 95,000
Dutchess County Council on Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency $ 95,000
Hudson Valley Student Support Services Center $ 95,000
Orange County Dept. of Health Community Health Outreach $ 95,000

NEW YORK CITY

New York City Dept. of Education Office of Student Support Placement, $ 95,000
Youth & Family Support Services

LONG ISLAND

BOCES – Western Suffolk - Nassau $125,000
BOCES – Western Suffolk - Suffolk $175,000

Statewide Total = $3,265,000

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The Governor also announced that nearly $2.6 million in funding will be dedicated to 18 community-based organizations as part of its newly created ‘Promising Tobacco Control Interventions’ initiative. As part of this new plan, community-based organizations receiving funding will advance anti-smoking and tobacco control programs that focus on prevention and treatment interventions, as well as new support services for youth. The following organizations are receiving awards under this initiative:

ORGANIZATION/REGION SERVED AWARD

NORTHEAST

Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital $131,317
Seton Health System $150,000
The Foundation for Healthy Living $150,000

CENTRAL REGION

Family Ties Network, Inc. $150,000
Onondaga County Health Department $150,000
Seaway Valley Council for Alcohol-Substance $150,000
Abuse Prevention, Inc.

WESTERN REGION

Chautauqua County Department of Health $300,000
Livingston County Department of Health $ 60,000
Park Ridge Hospital, Inc. $150,000
University of Rochester Medical Center $150,000
Roswell Park Cancer Institute $150,000

NEW YORK CITY/ LOWER HUDSON VALLEY

Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center $128,448
Latino Commission on Aids $149,983
Medical and Health Research Assoc. of New York City, Inc. $150,000
The Osborne Association $150,000

LONG ISLAND REGION

Clubhouse of Suffolk, Inc. $150,000
North Shore University Hospital $149,806

Statewide Total = $2,569,554

For more information and assistance on how to quit smoking, the public may contact the New York State Smokers' Quitline at: 1-866-NYQUITS (1-866-697-8487).

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