Cuts to Anti- Tobacco Program Short-Sighted

To the Editor:

As the New York State Legislature works this week to debate more budget cuts to services across the state, it is important to note that one program has already been hit disproportionately—the New York State Tobacco Control Program (TCP). More cuts to the TCP would seriously gut the programs that have already shown to be successful across the state.

Since the TCP's inception in 2000, adult smoking is down 22%, and youth smoking is down 40%. However, New York still has 2.5 million smokers who need help. Preventing and reducing tobacco use are the most important public health actions. Studies show that whenever tobacco control efforts are cut, prior progress gained begins to erode.

The state is in a serious financial crisis but gutting the state's Tobacco Control Program is short-sighted. For every $1 spent on smoking cessation programs and affective antismoking messages there is a $3 savings in health care costs. We will all be paying more for the health care costs associated with smoking if the TCP is cut to the point that it loses its effectiveness.

Tobacco is the number one cause of death in New York, killing more than 25,000 people annually. There are 570,000 New Yorkers currently living with tobaccorelated disease, many of them chronically disabled. Annual health care costs in New York caused by smoking exceed $8 billion, of which Medicaid pays $5.4 billion.

Let's keep investing in what gives a 300% return on our money. That's a deal more people can (and will) "live" with.
Dianna Virden Raxworthy
POW'R
Elmsford