Teenage Smoking in New York Down Nearly 45%
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ALBANY — Teen smoking in New York state has been reduced by nearly 45% since 2000, according to a report released yesterday by the state Department of Health. The state began using a tobacco control program in 2000. Officials attribute the drop in youth smoking to those efforts.
“New York’s approach to preventing and reducing youth tobacco use has been validated by these findings,” the director of the state’s tobacco control program, Ursula Bauer, said. “While declines in youth cigarette use in the rest of the country have leveled off or reversed, New York’s rates continue a steep decline.” The youth tobacco survey is taken in even-numbered years among middle and high school students.
In 2000 the prevalence of smoking for these age groups was 19.4%. That rate was reduced to 10.4% in 2006 — a 44.8% reduction.
“Since the majority of people who become regular cigarette smokers begin during adolescence, the results of this youth survey are very encouraging,” the state health commissioner, Richard Daines, said.
