NEW YORK TOBACCO CONTROL PROGRAM

VISION: All New Yorkers living in a tobacco free society.

MISSION: To reduce morbidity and mortality and alleviate the social and economic burden caused by tobacco use in New York State.

GOAL: To reduce the prevalence of adult cigarette use to 14% and youth cigarette use to 10% by 2010.

BACKGROUND: Through an independent evaluator, Research Triangle Institute, (RTI), the New York State Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program is a proven program that works to save lives, reduce disease, save money and keep kids from smoking.  As a result of programmatic efforts, youth and adult smoking rates in 2008 were the lowest on record.

RTI\'s evaluations of specific programs components have found strong evidence of success.  Highlights include:

• exposure to secondhand smoke in NYS has decreased,
• Quitline call volume has increased,
• healthcare provider assistance of smokers\' efforts to quit have increased,
• cigarette prices are above the national average.