SAFE GC Coalition: Studies Show Impact of Reduction in Smoking

The SAFE Glen Cove Coalition and the Tobacco Action Coalition (TAC) of Long Island seeks to apprise the community of a newly released report from the NYS Department of Health (DOH); “Health and Economic Burden of Smoking in New York”.

The report features current estimates of tobacco-related health and economic outcomes that have been updated from a previously generated Center for Disease Control (CDC) “Smoking- Mortality, Morbidity, and Economic Costs” (SAMMEC) model, which was published in many peer-reviewed periodicals/journals. It was also included in the 2014 U.S. Surgeon General’s Report and CDC’s 2014 “Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs”.

Significant findings include:

• Health burden and cost impacts of smoking have improved in recent years because of reduced smoking prevalence.
• Over 22,000 deaths in New York State in 2017 were attributable to smoking or secondhand smoke.
• Annually 20,906 deaths are directly due to smoking.
• There are 1,384 deaths attributable to secondhand smoke related illness.
• Nearly 550,000 potentially healthy years of life are lost each and every year due to premature death or disability from cigarette smoke.
• Smoking-attributable healthcare expenditures are estimated to have declined by $2.5 billion from 2011 to 2017.
• The decline in smoking related health care cost is consistent with declines in the adult smoking prevalence in New York State.

The entire document can be reviewed at: https://health.ny.gov/prevention/tobacco_control/reports/docs/health_and_economic_burden.pdf.

According to data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), an annual statewide telephone survey of adults developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and administered by the New York State DOH smoking rates among adults aged 25 years declined from 17.6% in 2011 down to 14.6% in 2016. Despite the reduction in rates and cost, as per the findings $9.7 billion a year is spent on preventable smoking-related healthcare expenditures approximated fifty percent of which is paid by public payers (e.g., Medicare and Medicaid).

Ms. Meschkow- Manager for TAC emphasizes based on the grim data it is clear SAFE and TAC’s efforts towards early education before the average age of onset at thirteen is crucial to preventing the next generation of smokers, while simultaneously making stakeholders aware of the need to protect the public from the dangers of second hand smoke Outdoors as they recreate, dine, at Worksites and in Multi-unit Dwellings. Regardless of the curve balls in tobacco related matters whether its emerging new products, relevant trends, changes in the Tobacco Lobby’s marketing strategies, the Coalition addresses the challenges through environmental strategies and prevention education to youth and adults in Glen Cove.

Quitting smoking and vaping is even more crucial now during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you or a loved one would like more information on the impacts of tobacco and lung health, or would like Cessation/Quit help please contact the NYS Quitline at: 1-866-NY-QUITS or contact the Experts at the American Lung Association Helpline at: 1-800-586- 4872.

SAFE, Inc. is the only alcohol and substance abuse prevention, intervention and education agency in the City of Glen Cove. Its Coalition is concerned about the dangers of all substance abuse including tobacco and seeks to educate and update the community regarding its negative consequences. To learn more about the SAFE Glen Cove Coalition please follow us on www.facebook.com/safeglencovec... or visit the Vaping Facts and Myths Page of SAFE’s website to learn more about how vaping is detrimental to your health www.safeglencove.org.