ALBANY, N.Y. (WENY) – A local program and youth leaders met with New York State lawmakers in Albany to discuss the dangers of smoking and tobacco use on Wednesday.

The Southern Tier Tobacco Awareness Coalition (STTAC) and local Reality Check youth leaders discussed the state's Tobacco Control Program, which has reportedly lowered the average smoking rate to 12.8%, as well as the “unmet needs in tobacco control efforts, particularly among youth and certain communities”.

While in the Capitol, the group met with local lawmakers Senator Tom O'Mara, Assemblyman Phil Palmesano and Assemblyman Chris Friend. During those meetings, the group discussed how smoking among high school youth has declined 82% statewide between 2000 and 2018; however, e-cigarette use by the same group continues to rise and is now at 27%. In comparison, only 3.8% of adult New Yorkers use e-cigarettes. Statewide, nearly 40% of 12th graders reported using e-cigarettes.

“Successfully reducing the average adult smoking rate to 12.8% in New York State is a significant achievement, but new and emerging nicotine products—like e-cigarettes—could reverse the substantial gains we’ve made in reducing smoking,” said Michelle Larimore, Community Engagement Coordinator with STTAC. “We know that marketing attracts youth to e-cigarettes, and flavors are what gets them to try them. Nicotine is what keeps them addicted. In our community, we have adult smoking rates that are significantly higher than the State, with Chemung at 25.9%, Schuyler at 19%, and Steuben at 22.6%.”

“Preventing and reducing tobacco use are the most important public health actions that can be taken to improve the health of New Yorkers,” said Dawn Bush, Public Health Program Coordinator with the Chemung County Health Department. “We’ve succeeded in reducing the state’s average adult smoking rate, but the primary unmet need of tobacco control is reducing smoking-related burden on certain groups that use tobacco at higher rates, such as those living with frequent mental distress, adults enrolled in Medicaid, and adults who are unemployed, where some smoking rates are double the state average.”

According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free kids, annual health care costs directly caused by smoking in New York State are $10.39 billion, resulting in a tax burden of $14,10 for each household every year. The CDC reports there are 28,200 deaths in New York State every year due to smoking.