Making It Harder to Smoke and Easier to Quit: The Effect of 10 Years of Tobacco Control in New York City

Abstract

In 2002, New York City implemented a comprehensive tobacco control plan that discouraged smoking through excise taxes and smoke-free air laws and facilitated quitting through population-wide cessation services and hard-hitting media campaigns. Following the implementation of these activities through a well-funded and politically supported program, the adult smoking rate declined by 28% from 2002 to 2012, and the youth smoking rate declined by 52% from 2001 to 2011. These improvements indicate that local jurisdictions can have a significant positive effect on tobacco control.

Cigarette smoking and 9/11-related posttraumatic stress disorder among World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees, 2003–12

“…Similar to previous research on smoking trajectories (Levy et al, 2009), we found that non-daily smokers were less likely to increase their consumption (i.e., become a daily smoker) than light smokers (i.e., become a heavy smoker). The increasing proportions of non-daily smokers observed in our study may represent the effect of comprehensive tobacco control policies implemented in NYC in 2002 (Kilgore et al, 2014), which has been associated with decreased cigarette consumption . Historically, cessation resources such as pharmacotherapy have excluded non-daily smokers (Fiore et al, 2008); however, as the group most likely to quit smoking, non-daily smokers may benefit from access to cessation services and education campaigns.…”

Case studies in nanny state name-calling: what can we learn?

“…The Health Department's strategy included raising tobacco taxes, comprehensive smoke-free legislation, better access to smoking cessation medications, and mass marketing campaigns. 25 In 2013, New York City raised the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products to 21 years, including for e-cigarettes. 25 Between 2002 and 2010, smoking prevalence in New York City fell from 21.5% to 14%, in contrast with a fall from 22.3% to 19.3% in the US as a whole.…”

“…25 In 2013, New York City raised the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products to 21 years, including for e-cigarettes. 25 Between 2002 and 2010, smoking prevalence in New York City fell from 21.5% to 14%, in contrast with a fall from 22.3% to 19.3% in the US as a whole. 26 Between 2002 and 2012, the adult smoking rate in New York City fell by 28%; among youth smokers, it fell by 52% (2001e2011).…”

“…26 Between 2002 and 2012, the adult smoking rate in New York City fell by 28%; among youth smokers, it fell by 52% (2001e2011). 25 Many of those who quit will now live longer and healthier lives, thanks to Bloomberg's 'nanny state' e a model for city and municipal governments worldwide. 27e29…”

Risky Business: New York City’s Experience With Fear-Based Public Health Campaigns

“…While the Department of Health continued to put out "aspirational" ads featuring "happy quitters" through 2005, 16 the aggressive Australian antismoking approach would become "the mama of our style" (Escoffier, personal communication, June 9, 2014). Smoking cessation rates had stalled.…”