Fund smoking cessation in NY
Cigarette packs are on display for sale. Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Regarding "Obama Quits Smoking" [News, Feb. 9], it was stated that President Barack Obama has given up cigarettes. This is wonderful news to hear as he has struggled with this addiction for many years. Currently in New York, there are 2.7 million smokers. Seventy-five percent want to quit, and 60 percent of them have tried to quit during the past year. These smokers require our help to break their deadly addiction to tobacco.
Unfortunately, the New York State Tobacco Control Program has taken significant budget cuts over the last few years. These cuts have impacted efforts that protect the health and well-being of our children and adults, including cessation services.
The program and its partners work to protect children from tobacco use and help adult smokers quit. Maintaining funding will give the 75 percent of smokers who want to quit a fighting chance.
Kelly DeVito, Karyn Kirschbaum, Gail Volk
Editor's note: The writers are members of Healthy Schools New York, an advocacy organiztion.
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