As Cigarette Taxes Rise, Smokers Urged to Kick the Habit

The Rockland County Department of Health is urging smokers to talk to their doctors, or to call the Put It Out Rockland Cessation Program for help in giving up their potentially deadly addiction.

And it's a particularly good time to quit, said Dr. Joan Facelle, commissioner of the Rockland County Department of Health. The New York State cigarette excise tax increased by $1.60 on July 1 to $4.35 per pack, which put the average cost of a pack of cigarettes over $8.

"Everyone knows that cigarettes are bad for your body – smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in United States – but smoking is bad for your bank account, too," said Facelle. "Smokers should use this tax increase as motivation to quit. Not only will quitting save you money, but a smoker who quits reduces their risk of developing smoking-related heart disease, stroke, cancer and emphysema. So, if you smoke, now is the perfect time to talk to your doctor or call the Put It Out Rockland Cessation Program."

Put It Out Rockland offers free programs to help smokers quit.  The combined approach of counseling and the use of nicotine replacement products such as patches, gum or lozenge, doubles the chances of being successful, Facelle said.

According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, New York can expect the $1.60 cigarette tax to prevent 170,500 New York kids from becoming smokers; spur 86,100 current adult smokers to quit; save 77,300 New York residents from premature, smoking-caused deaths; and save $3.8 billion in future health care costs.

"The cigarette tax increase will have a significant health benefit to the people of New York State," said Facelle. "As cigarettes become less affordable, more people will give up smoking, and fewer youth will start.  So, if you're ready to quit – if you want to stop throwing away your money on cigarettes, and you want to get healthy – take advantage of the resources that are there to help."

Call 845-364-2651 or visit www.putitoutrockland.com for information on programs to help quit smoking.