The following is a statement by Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids:
Governor David Paterson's decision to cut an additional $10 million out of the funding for New York state's effective and successful tobacco prevention program is shortsighted and in the long run will cost lives and money. It is a genuinely penny wise and pound foolish decision. New York state's tobacco prevention program has had dramatic success dropping smoking rates for both kids and adults well below the national average. It is saving lives and saving New York's taxpayers money.
Just six years ago in 2003, New York's adult smoking rate stood at 21.6 percent, right at the national average. But the state wisely invested in an evidence-based tobacco prevention and cessation program, increased its tobacco tax, and passed a strong smoke-free law. The result of that prudent investment has never been more evident than two weeks ago when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the national adult smoking rate had gone up for the first time in several years to 20.6 percent. At the same time, New York state smoking rates for adults dropped to 16.8 percent, well below the national rate, while smoking rates for kids in New York state dropped to an astonishing 13.8 percent, also well below the national rate. New York state's exemplary work in bringing down smoking rates could be undone in a hurry if Governor Paterson's budget ax is allowed to fall.
Last year, the budget for tobacco prevention in New York state was cut by $17 million dollars and that was bad enough. Now the Governor is proposing an additional $10 million dollar cut and there is no guarantee that further cuts are not just around the corner. If Governor Paterson's plan is implemented, it will almost certainly decimate one of the most successful programs the State of New York maintains.
While these are indeed tough budget times, it makes no sense to cut a program that is saving lives and healthcare dollars and that has already been severely cut. It does make sense to spend just a small fraction of the more than $2 billion New York collects in tobacco settlement payments and tobacco taxes to fund this vital program.
Even with the success of New York state's tobacco prevention efforts, there is still an uphill battle ongoing to drive down smoking related costs in the state. The sad reality is that 25,400 New Yorkers die annually from smoking- related disease, and more than 20,000 New York kids become regular smokers each year.. And healthcare costs associated with tobacco use in New York state amount to a staggering $8.17 billion annually.
Instead of cutting New York state's budget for tobacco prevention, Governor Paterson should do everything in his power to restore the cuts already made and hold out New York's tobacco prevention efforts as an outstanding example of a government program that works. If he chooses to hold to his current plan, he deserves all the opprobrium he will almost certainly get from legislators, media, and the citizens of the State of New York.
SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
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