New Rochelle youth visit the NYS Capitol

Reality Check youth and tobacco control representatives with American Lung Association’s POW’R Against Tobacco met with the office of Senator Nathalia Fernandez in Albany. They discussed the tobacco industry’s targeted marketing that attracts and addicts young people in our community and interferes with successful quitting attempts, and they highlighted their local work with health systems to counteract the tobacco industry’s hi-jacking of the public health message

For every $1 invested in the NYS Tobacco Control Program, New York achieves a $15 reduction in smoking-related health care costs

Despite the NYS Tobacco Control Program’s (TCP) demonstrated success and identified unmet needs, the state’s funding for the TCP is just 2% of the state’s annual tobacco revenue from tobacco product excise tax ($1.03B) and Master Settlement Agreement funds ($764M). The CDC recommends New York State spend $203 million on tobacco control annually, whereas the state spends $34.8 million, just 17% of the CDC’s recommendation. Learn more: The Economic Reality of Tobacco in New York State and The Human Cost of Tobacco in New York State.

Surgeon General: Adult smoking is down, but rates remain high among some demographic groups

While the adult cigarette smoking rate in New York State has dropped dramatically since the inception of the NYS Tobacco Control Program in 2000, from 23.2% in 2001[iv] to 11.3% in 2022, smoking rates among certain demographic groups remain high. According to the recently released U.S. Surgeon General’s Report: Eliminating Tobacco-Related Disease and Death: Addressing Disparities, the tobacco industry disproportionately targets various population groups with industry marketing and other industry tactics.

Smoking rates are highest among New York adults with an annual household income of less than $25,000 (18.4%) and adults reporting frequent mental distress (18.4%) Additionally, some groups often experience barriers to screening, referral and treatment for nicotine dependence and related health issues. These data demonstrate clear disparities in tobacco use and tobacco-related health outcomes in New York State.

During legislative meetings, tobacco control representatives shared with lawmakers that many communities have protected their kids and families by reducing tobacco marketing and keeping stores that sell commercial tobacco products away from schools, community centers and other youth-oriented public spaces, for example. And many regional health systems around the state have integrated tobacco screening as a regular part of patient visits—helping to ensure no groups are excluded from the latest, most effective treatments for ending nicotine dependency.

NYS youth vape/e-cigarette use rate drops but remains perilously high at nearly 1 in 5.

The tobacco industry’s e-cigarette/vape marketing in the past decade has successfully attracted and addicted young people in our communities. In 2018, New York high school student vaping/e-cigarette use peaked at 27.4%. In the years since, the rate has declined and in 2022, the year with the latest data, nearly 1 in 5 (18.7%) of high school students across the state reported vaping nicotine compared to a record low of about 1 in 50 (2.1%) who reported smoking cigarettes in 2022. Nicotine is particularly dangerous for youth and young adults. Nicotine exposure during adolescence can harm the developing brain and increase the risk for future addiction to other drugs.

"Through local initiatives, Tobacco Control Program representatives and Reality Check youth are raising awareness about the severe harm caused by the tobacco industry,” says Meghan DuBois O'Connor, Director of POW'R Against Tobacco. “They showcase the steps other communities have taken to protect young people from commercial tobacco use and nicotine addiction while also supporting those looking to quit. New York State Tobacco Control Partners have played a vital role in reducing tobacco use rates through policy-driven, cost-effective, and evidence-based approaches—now with an even stronger focus on communities disproportionately impacted by tobacco and nicotine use."

Targeted menthol marketing perpetuates tobacco use disparities and health disparities

According to the Surgeon General, the tobacco industry has designed, engineered and marketed menthol cigarettes and other tobacco products that deliver multisensory flavor experiences which increase the likelihood of tobacco initiation, addiction and sustained use. While fewer people now smoke cigarettes than in recent decades, the proportion of menthol use among people who use tobacco products has increased.

Menthol cigarettes are a significant risk to public health and advancing health equity. According to 2021 and 2022 data, the latest available, menthol cigarette use was highest among New York adults who identify as Black or African American (88%) and those who identify as Hispanic (70%). Learn more about tobacco industry menthol marketing tactics and its impact at NotJustMenthol.org.

About POW’R Against Tobacco:

POW’R Against Tobacco, a program of the American Lung Association, is a grassroots coalition of local agencies and individuals working together to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use and to promote healthy communities. POW’R serves Putnam, Orange and Westchester counties in New York State. POW’R is funded by the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Tobacco Control’s Advancing Tobacco Free Communities Program. To learn more visit: powragainsttobacco.org