NY Leads The Nation With Tobacco-Free Initiative To Enhance Recovery And Save Lives |
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STATE OF NEW YORK Contact: Jennifer Farrell, (OASAS) 518-457-8299 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 24, 2008 NY LEADS THE NATION WITH TOBACCO-FREE INITIATIVE TO ENHANCE New York State today becomes the first in the nation to enact tobacco-free regulations at all prevention and treatment programs, a groundbreaking wellness initiative in the addiction services system enacted on the anniversary of the Clean Indoor Air Act. While the smoking rate in New York is now 18.2 percent, it is as high as 92 percent among the 1.8 million New Yorkers who are dealing with alcoholism and drug addiction. The regulation is from the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, which oversees one of the nation's largest addiction services systems, with more than 1,550 prevention and treatment programs. "On the anniversary of the Clean Indoor Air Act, I am pleased to report that New York is once again taking important steps aimed at making our State tobacco-free, which will save lives and greatly improve the health of our citizens," said Governor David A. Paterson. "I want to thank Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo for trumpeting this first-in-the-nation wellness initiative and making New York a leader among addiction services systems." "Today, New York will lead the nation when prevention and treatment programs go tobacco-free," said Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo. "On behalf of Governor Paterson, OASAS is taking a life-saving approach to reducing the risk of relapse, improving the health and enhancing the long-term recovery of the individuals in our care. This collaboration is going to make a tremendous difference in the lives of the 110,000 patients and 35,000 staff in the OASAS system on any given day." This regulation, proposed one year ago, will be implemented today statewide and announced at a press conference at OASAS-funded St. Peter's Addiction Recovery Center (SPARC) in Guilderland. "For years in the treatment of addiction it was thought that treating the tobacco dependence would put unfair pressure on the patient working toward recovery. "We now know that's not true," said Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo. "Treating tobacco dependence with other addictions actually leads to higher recovery success rates. This regulation provides the opportunity to improve the health, enhance the recovery and save the lives." Tobacco-related disease kills more people each year than all other addictive substances combined. Evidence also shows that tobacco negatively impacts recovery rates from other substances as cravings for nicotine increase cravings for other drugs. More than 50 percent of the deaths in the substance abuse treatment populations are due to tobacco-related disease - more deaths than those caused by HIV, homicides, suicides, fires, automobile accidents, alcohol, heroin, and cocaine combined. An $8 million grant from the Department of Health (DOH) will fund tobacco-free training services for program staff provided by University at Albany's Professional Development Program (PDP), and nicotine replacement patches, lozenges and gum at no cost to patients who do not have insurance coverage for those materials. "Enacting tobacco-free regulations in prevention and treatment programs across the state is a major step in helping to save the lives of many New Yorkers," New York State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines, M.D. said. "By helping recovering individuals quit smoking, they will not only be less likely to revert back to using drugs or alcohol, but the likelihood that they will die from a tobacco-related illness will be reduced. The Department of Health is thrilled to partner with OASAS on this wellness initiative - as it will positively affect thousands of New Yorkers and their families." "St. Peter's Addiction Recovery Center was motivated to collaborate with other agencies across service systems because we know that the addiction population continues to use tobacco at much higher rates," said SPARC Executive Director Robert Doherty. "Helping our patients quit smoking not only enhances their ability to remain sober, but ultimately saves lives." "We're committed to providing the resources that providers need to begin the process of change in our system" said John Coppola, Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State Executive Director. "Working together with OASAS on the implementation of this effort to reduce tobacco dependence and improve the health of our patients, ASAP will provide necessary support to the field and help to ensure the success of this major health initiative." "New York is setting the standard for other states on smoking prevention," said Donald Distasio, Chief Executive Officer of the American Cancer Society's Eastern Division. "There is no dispute that the consequences of a tobacco addiction are both devastating and deadly. The American Cancer Society applauds Commissioners Carpenter-Palumbo and Daines for their vision and leadership, as they lead the nation in this public health initiative to save lives." Jennifer Cohen, LMSW, a clinical social worker at SPARC in Albany, will speak at the event on behalf of employees who have quit smoking thanks to the anti-smoking efforts instituted by SPARC. "I picked up my first cigarette when I was 12 years old, and though I had brief periods of abstinence, it wasn't until 20 years later - on August 11, 2005, after being newly-appointed to SPARC's Tobacco Recovery Committee - that I put my cigarettes down for good," said Ms. Cohen. "Today, nearly three years later, I continue to support my organization, colleagues, and patients by remaining tobacco-free!" Also speaking at the event will be Rafael Castillo, a patient at Basics Inc., in the Bronx. "I started smoking at the age of 23 and tried many times to quit on my own for the past 12 years but I was told that the patches wouldn't work, and everyone around me smoked," Mr. Castillo said. "I felt socially out of place and I looked at the non-smokers as winners. I came into treatment thinking that I was going to quit my drug use and continue to smoke. Then I learned that Basics was going to go smoke-free. I got education and lots of support from my counselors and peers. I decided that if I am going to stop using drugs it made sense to stop tobacco. I want to encourage people who are coming into treatment to remember that recovery and feeling healthy is the main goal. I feel healthier since I quit and hope others will join me." Ms. Cohen and Mr. Castillo will join Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo in a planting an evergreen tree at the SPARC facility as a symbol of the long-term recovery that will be fostered by the initiative. Commissioner Carpenter-Palumbo will also be joined at the podium on July 24, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. by state Department of Health Director of Division of Chronic Disease Prevention and Adult Health, Ursula Bauer; American Cancer Society Senior Vice President of Cancer Control, David Momrow; Alcohol and Substance Abuse Providers of New York State Executive Director, John Coppola; and SPARC Executive Director Bob Doherty. For more information about the tobacco-free regulation enacted Thursday, visit www.oasas.state.ny.us/tobacco/index.cfm. For information or assistance with an alcohol or substance abuse problem in New York State, call the addictions helpline at 1-800-522-5353 or go to the OASAS Web Site at www.oasas.state.ny.us. Press release source: http://www.oasas.state.ny.us/pio/press/pr-072408.cfm |
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