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Don't Cut State Tobacco Control Funding
Dear Editor,
Last week, Governor Patterson announced plans to bring the NYS Legislature back for another special session to address a projected $1.2 billion shortfall in the current state budget. This session is scheduled for November 18. While un-welcomed budget cuts are inevitable, it is imperative that funding to the New York State Tobacco Control Program is not cut.
New York spends $8.2 billion annually in tobacco caused health care cost. More that 570,000 New Yorkers suffer from serious smoking caused disease, with medical cost of $22.4 million per day!
New York's 83 million annual investment in Tobacco Control represents less than four days worth of smoking caused health care costs! The CDC recommends that NYS invest $254.3 million dollars annually toward tobacco control. Cutting funding to the TCP would be a regressive and dangerous act.
389,000 kids between the ages of 0-17 are projected to die from smoking. While most states have not seen a decline in youth smoking, smoking rates for NYS students have dropped from 33% in 1997 to 13.8% in 2007. Tobacco Control programs work and are needed in order to keep youth smoking levels down.
The New York State Assemblyman and Senators must make the responsible decision to continue funding Tobacco Control Programs. Continued funding will play a vital role in keeping New Yorkers healthy while drastically reducing state health care expenditures.
Do not allow the progress that New York State has made in Tobacco Control efforts to erode. Continue to support the New York State Tobacco Control Program.
Anthony Massarelli
Tarrytown, NY
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