On the anniversary of the Great American Smokeout, a leading anti-cancer group says Governor Cuomo’s administration should be spending more to cut back on smoking in New York.
The American Cancer Society’s Michael Burgess says while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends New York State spend $200 million a year on tobacco cessation programs, the current state budget has just under $40 million allotted for it. Burgess says in the past, it’s been demonstrated that spending the money on things like a smokers quit line works.
“We believe it actually saves money because we’re spending over $10 billion in health-related costs for smoking,” Burgess said.
The smoking rate among New Yorkers has plateaued in recent years at around 16 percent, and the rate has actually increased recently in New York City. The State Health Department has quietly begun a new anti-smoking ad program featuring young people who developed cancer from smoking.