Thursday is the Great American SmokeOut, and the incentives for Central New York smokers to quit the habit are many. Health benefits top the list, but those who run New York State’s Quitline say there’s also the financial motivation, even for light smokers. The Department of Taxation and Finance shows New Yorkers pay an average of $5.35 in taxes alone for every cigarette pack. Principal investigator with the quitline Andrew Hyland says the state’s high cigarette tax is one of many factors contributing to the low 11 percent smoking rate.
“Those high prices play a huge role. We don't smoke in bars and restaurants and workplaces. Not that long ago, that was the case," Hyland said. "We don't see advertising for cigarettes on television. So the policy environment, the social environment are all sort of pushing cigarettes out the door, basically. And then coupled that with the individual level factors, people they have that health effects.”
No matter the reasons, Hyland acknowledges quitting smoking is still tough, and often takes many tries before kicking the habit for good. He recognizes that demographics also play a role and that not all groups go smoke-free at the same rate.
“The largest disparities that we see are in people with low-income and low-education. Actually reducing cigarette smoking in that population has not really made any progress for decades, just a little bit," Hyland said. "Whereas people with college education, those smoking rates, have gone way down.”
Hyland says there are also racial disparities due in part to targeted tobacco marketing, as well as some immigrant populations who come from countries where smoking is socially acceptable. While New York assesses some of the highest cigarette taxes, it has made quitting relatively free. Most residents who reach out to the quitline are eligible for free quit-smoking medication and other resources. More information can be found here.
Hyland is also chair of the Department of Health Behavior at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo.
