TEAM Newburgh Announces Results of Newburgh Tobacco Legislation

From Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange and Sullivan:

Newburgh – In recognition of Thursday, November 17 as the Great American Smokeout, TEAM Newburgh announced the initial results of the City of Newburgh’s tobacco legislation enacted in March 2015. Since the implementation of the legislation, City of Newburgh youth surveyed by TEAM Newburgh have shown a marked decrease in tobacco usage and the number of licensed tobacco outlets in the City decreased by 65%.

The legislation, which was proposed to the Newburgh City Council by TEAM Newburgh with broad community support, prohibits the placement of a retail establishment selling tobacco products from being within 1,000 feet of any public or private, pre-kindergarten through high school, learning facility. Licensed tobacco establishments within the 1,000 feet zone prior to the passage of the legislation were allowed to remain as long as they maintained code compliance. A license cannot be renewed for such facilities should they fail to maintain compliance and lose their license.

In 2014, prior to the enactment of the tobacco legislation, there were 52 licensed tobacco outlets in the City of Newburgh, all selling drug paraphernalia as tobacco products. According to figures from the City, the number of licensed outlets decreased to 18 by March 2016, one year after the legislation was enacted, representing a 65% reduction.

“It is very encouraging to see such positive results in such a short time from the tobacco legislation,” said Martin Colavito, Director of Prevention Services for Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange and Sullivan. “We were grateful to have the support from the community and the City Council to make this effort a reality. It gives us hope that communities can make a difference and achieve positive results when people unite together for a cause. We must continue to make our voices heard loudly and clearly so that the young people in our community have opportunities for a bright future, one free of drugs and violence,” added Colavito.

As part of its collaborative community prevention and outreach initiatives, TEAM Newburgh has regularly utilized a survey to collect data from youth in the Newburgh Enlarged City School District. Surveys were first initiated by TEAM Newburgh in 2008. The 2016 survey showed the following decrease in cigarette use within the last 30 days among students surveyed:

8th grade 2008 – 4.1% reported cigarette use; 2016 – 2.0% reported cigarette use.

10th grade 2008 – 12.3% reported cigarette use; 2016 – 2.0% reported cigarette use.

12th grade 2008 – 19.7% reported cigarette use; 2016 – 7.1% reported cigarette use.

"The results of the survey demonstrate how the landscape of a community can be changed for the better when a team of determined and passionate people work with the municipal government to focus on one goal for the greater good of the community and their youth,” said Meghan DuBois O’Connor, Orange County Coordinator for POW’R Against Tobacco, a community collaborator with TEAM Newburgh. “The survey results are evidence that strong tobacco control policy solutions are effective in reducing youth exposure to tobacco marketing, thus reducing smoking rates.”

“We are grateful for the support from City of Newburgh Mayor Judy Kennedy, the City Council members, Police Chief Cameron, and our many TEAM Newburgh partners for helping to make this legislation a reality,” said Dawn Wilkin, Assistant Director of Prevention Services for Catholic Charities. “What started as an effort to get tobacco and drug paraphernalia out of sight for our young people has yielded positive and tangible results. We look forward to working with community partners and local officials to continue the progress.”

Through community relations and street outreach, TEAM Newburgh takes their message of prevention to the streets to make residents aware of the many programs and services that are available in the community. By attending community and government meetings, TEAM Newburgh has a presence, which allows them to further their goal of improving the lives of young people in the city, and has a positive impact on the larger community.

TEAM Newburgh is a community-based collaborative of more than 100 partners dedicated to improving and enhancing the quality of life in the City of Newburgh. Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange and Sullivan serves as the lead agency for TEAM Newburgh. For more information, please contact Regina Cieslak, TEAM Newburgh Coordinator, at 845-569-0034, ext. 15. TEAM Newburgh can also be found on Facebook at TEAMNewburgh Take Back the City.

The Great American Smokeout is an annual event to promote and encourage a tobacco-free lifestyle. The third Thursday of November (this year November 17) is set aside as the one day for all smokers to make a plan to quit smoking for good. Approximately 40 million American adults still smoke, and tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the country.

For information about smoking cessation programs, contact the New York State Smokers’ Quitline at 1.866.NY.QUITS or visit www.nysmokefree.com.

Image via Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange and Sullivan.