NYS Tobacco Control Programs meet with NYS Lawmakers

Hauppauge, NY (April 21, 2021) – The Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island and the Center for Tobacco Control at Northwell Health met virtually in February and March 2021 with lawmakers to discuss the state’s tobacco control program priorities and initiatives over this past year highlighting the continued importance of protecting lung health. They met with New York State Legislators: Mattera, Palumbo, Stern, Weik, Gaughran, Brooks, Thomas, Lavine, Kaminsky and Kaplan.

During the meetings, they stressed that tobacco use is still the leading cause of preventable death and disease in NYS. It is more important than ever to prevent and reduce tobacco use. Recent evidence shows that smokers are more susceptible to severe respiratory symptoms if they contract COVID-19.

“According to the Center for Disease Control, ‘being a current or former cigarette smoker increases your risk of severe illness from COVID-19'.” said Patricia Folan, DNP, CTTS. “Smoking kills about 22,000 adult New Yorkers every year. The data highlight the ongoing need to address tobacco use in New York.”

“Nearly 2 million New York smokers still need our help, and much work needs to be done to protect kids from future nicotine addiction,” said PJ Tedeschi, director of the Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island. “The continued marketing of mint and menthol flavored tobacco products to youth and minority populations continues to exacerbate health inequities across Long Island.”

Menthol cigarettes remain a key vector for tobacco-related death and disease in Black communities, with over 80% of Black Americans who smoke using them. Menthol cigarette use is also elevated among LGBTQ+ Americans, pregnant women, and persons with lower incomes. A recent study showed that while overall cigarette use declined by 26% over the past decade, 91% of that decline was due to non-menthol cigarettes.

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Northwell Health’s Center for Tobacco Control (CTC)

As one of the nine NYS DOH Bureau of Tobacco Control’s Health Systems for a Tobacco-Free NY contractors, the Center for Tobacco Control targets and works with health care organizations across the region that serve high priority population groups disproportionately affected by tobacco including patients with low income, low educational attainment, and/or those with serious mental illness. The CTC engages health care organizational leaders to improve systems and policy changes that result in clinicians consistently addressing and treating their patients for tobacco use.

The Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island

The Tobacco Action Coalition of LI is one of 21 Advancing Tobacco-Free Communities grants funded by the NYS DOH’s Bureau of Tobacco Control and administered by the American Lung Association. Our grant is comprised of a community engagement and youth action component, Reality Check, working collaboratively to promote environments open to creating a tobacco-free norm as well as educating and empowering our youth to become change agents within their communities.

The New York State Tobacco Control Program is made up of a network of statewide contractors who work on Advancing Tobacco-Free Communities, which includes Community Engagement and Reality Check, the Health Systems for a Tobacco-Free New York, the NYS Smokers’ Quitline and Surveillance and Research. Their efforts are leading the way toward a tobacco-free society. For more information, visit TobaccoFreeNYS.org.