As the year ends, it is evident that 2022 has brought many challenges to New Yorkers when it comes to their health. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect our society and the combination of the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has brought in a new public health concern referred to as a “Tripledemic.” We all have a responsibility to improve our overall health, as well as the health of our families and loved ones to weather this public health storm. As a society, one of the best ways to improve our overall health is to denormalize tobacco use.
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in New York state taking 28,000 lives per year. It’s also a leading expenditure for the state, costing New York $10.4 billion a year in medical cost, caring for people made sick from tobacco use. With such staggering statistics, it is important that we continue the battle against the negative influences of Big Tobacco. The state Tobacco Control program, NYC Smoke-Free and our partners are important groups helping to reduce the devastation brought on by tobacco.
At NYC Smoke-Free, we work with housing organizations/landlords, community-based organizations, schools, large employers, faith-based organizations, youth-focused organizations and the community to assist them in implementing voluntary smoke-free policies that denormalize tobacco use and ultimately saves lives and money. These life-saving policies reinforce the importance of maintaining a healthy society free of smoke pollution and deadly secondhand smoke exposure. We are here to partner with you to keep New Yorkers healthy during these times.
For more information on NYC Smoke-Free or to lend support in ending NYC’s devastating tobacco epidemic, please visit www.NYCSmokeFree.org
Guillermo Flores is the Bronx community engagement manger for NYC Smoke-Free.
