Tobacco Free Broome and Tioga Reality Check Youth join state lawmakers in Albany for Legislative Education Day

New York State (NYS) Tobacco Control Program has been proven to reduce youth smoking and help current smokers quit, which saves lives and millions of state tax dollars. However, higher rates of smoking persist among individuals with less than a high school education (22.4 percent), income less than $25,000 a year (22.2 percent) and those with poor mental health (27.2 percent). Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in New York State; 28,200 lives are lost due to tobacco dependence every year. 

Four local Reality Check youth advocates from Tobacco Free Broome and Tioga, Ethan and Joe from Tioga County and Jacob and Keonna from Broome County joined other Reality Check youth from across the state to educate state elected officials on Feb. 7.  

Senator Akshar and Assemblyman Crouch learned about the valuable work being done to reduce the impact of tobacco marketing on youth in our local area. Annually, the group visits the New York State Capitol to update lawmakers about the tobacco control progress in local communities and opportunities to further reduce the burden of tobacco. 

The NYS Tobacco Control Program is made up of a network of statewide contractors and uses a policy-driven, population-based approach designed to prevent youth from smoking and to motivate adult smokers to quit. The efforts are leading the way towards a tobacco-free society. For more information, visit TobaccoFreeNYS.org.

Reality Check engages youth as leaders and activists in the movement against tobacco use and the tobacco industry. Reality Check is a partnership between Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) – Tioga County and the Broome County Health Department. 

For more information about these programs, contact Cara Zampi, CCE community educator, by calling 687-4020.

Visit the Cornell Cooperative Extension, Tioga County website, tioga.cce.cornell.edu, for more information about other programs offered in Tioga County.