Tobacco Facts

Statistics on Tobacco in New York State
Adult Smoking Rate 2004 19.9% (13th lowest in U.S.) Number of adult smokers in New York 2,700,000 Adult Smoking Rate 2001 23.2% Adult Smoking Rate 1987 23.2%	Teen Smoking Rate 2004 18.5% (10th lowest in U.S.) Number of teen smokers 250,000 Packs of cigarettes smoked by kids each year 48 million New teen smokers every year 35,000 Kids alive today who will die from smoking (at current smoking rate) 424,000 Teen Smoking Rate 2000 27.1%

 

Annual deaths caused by tobacco use 25,500

New Yorkers alive with tobacco-caused disease 510,000

Annual tobacco-caused health care costs $7.5 billion

Total tobacco-caused Medicaid expenditures $5 billion

New York State Cigarette Excise Tax 1.50/pack (10th highest in U.S.)

Last tax increase 4/3/02 39 cents (to $1.50)

Previous tax increase 3/1/00 55 cents (to $1.11)

 

Taxes in nearby states: • Rhode Island - $2.46 • New Jersey - $2.40 • Maine - $2.00 • Massachusetts - $1.50 • Connecticut – 1.50 • Pennsylvania - $1.35 • Vermont – 1.19

 

Annual appropriation to Tobacco Control Program (TCP) $43.36 million ($2.25 per capita)

Percent of CDC-recommended minimum 45.3% (18th highest in U.S.)

Highest appropriation California $79.7 million ($2.22 per capita)

Highest per capita appropriation Maine ($10.76 per capita)

Governor’s proposal $85.41 million ($4.44 per capita, 89% of recommended minimum, 6th highest in U.S.)

Adult prevalence by 2010 if TCP funded at CDC minimum – 12% (one million fewer smokers) 317,000 deaths prevented over next generation

Teen prevalence by 2010 if TCP funded at CDC minimum – 10% (100,000 fewer smokers) 300,000 kids alive now saved from smoking

Medicaid Savings by 2010 if TCP funded at CDC minimum $84 million

Reference: Russell Sciandra, Director- Center for a Tobacco free New York 1/26/06