NY anti-smoking programs may be cut

by Kelsey Desiderio and Ying Lam

Published December 2, 2009

Gov. David Paterson proposed a $10 million budget cut of the state's anti-smoking program. This cut will reduce funds allocated to programs that help Medicaid patients quit smoking.

Diana Silver, a Steinhardt assistant professor of public health, said the anti-smoking campaigns would not be the first program she would cut to reduce the state budget.

"I think there's pretty strong evidence to suggest that the work that New York State and New York City has done in reducing smoking is important work that pays off," Silver said. "One of the best things that the state can do in terms of keeping its health care costs down is to get people to live healthier lives and stopping smoking is one of those."

Audrey Silk, founder of New York City Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment, said these budget cuts will not stop the anti-smoking message from being heard.

"Smokers have been beaten over the head and … into submission with the message," Silk said. "That message will easily carry on without state-based tobacco control programs once the FDA implements all the provisions of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Act."

Silk also expressed her thoughts about the state's control over smoking.

"The alleged benefits don't outweigh the costs to our right to be left alone," she said.

LSP freshman Emily Carlson said she thinks the government should not limit the funds that help citizens quit smoking.

"In the long run, it will cost the state more money because our health services will have to deal with the complications of smoking," Carlson said. "It's a necessity to provide these services — just like drugs, it's an addiction."

Although Stern freshman Sarah Kellner said anti-smoking campaigns send the correct message to urge people to stop smoking, she does not think they have an effect on their target audiences.

"The truth is, unless you want to quit smoking, you're not going do it," Kellner said. "And if you want to quit, these programs won't affect you. If you intend to stop smoking, you will just do it because it's the right decision for you."

Kelsey Desiderio and Ying Lam are staff writers.

1 discussion

Rebecca Manwaring

Dec 03, 2009
8:22 a.m.

One of the goals of the tobacco control program in New York is not only to assist current smokers with quitting, but to prevent kids from ever starting to smoke. Tobacco companies spend billions of dollars on marketing directed at youth - and 90% of smokers start before the age of 18. New York spends 8.17 billion dollars annually on health care costs caused by smoking. Unfortunately, I can anticipate that youth smoking rates will rise with the proposed cuts. New York State has had a comprehensive tobacco control program that has yeilded tangible results - our current adult smoking rate is 16.7% and the youth smoking rate 14.7%, the lowest on record and substantially lower than the rest of the nation. With our failing economy(which is greatly due to the ridiculous health care expenses in our nation), you would think that government officials would recognize pro-active prevention programs are the one tool we have to combat that growing deficit. Compared to the cost of health care, it is a relatively small investment with a generous yeild. The New York State Tobacco Control Program saves lives and money.

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