Updated 12/22/2009 06:07 AM
Anti-smoking groups warn more kids will light up if state funding cut
Programs aimed at stopping children from smoking are just some of the items on the chopping block as the governor looks to reduce a multi-billion dollar deficit. Our Neil St. Clair tells us how local groups are coping with the loss of thousands in funding.
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BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- A serious crisis faces this group of women, the collective heads of Broome and Tioga Counties' fight against smoking.
"Right now, the biggest challenge is the unknown. We've been told there's going to be cuts, but we don't know exactly what's impacting our programming," said Diana Chandler, Reality Check coordinator, an anti-smoking group focused on teenagers.
The funding cuts total more than $15 million statewide. This 38 percent drop trickles down to local agencies and could range from $10,000 to $50,000 per group budget.
"There won't be much money for media and that means more youth will start smoking, because we have very effective county marketing," said Sharon Fischer, Tobacco Free Broome coordinator.
The anti-smoking groups say they realize the austere nature of this year's budget, but feel they've been unfairly targeted.
"Let's make it fair across the board," said Chandler. "To take so much from one program and not others isn't the most fair way of doing things."
A spokesman for the governor's budget office says all groups, including the anti-smoking crowd, will just have to sit tight.
"This is part of the reality of closing a $3.2 billion deficit," said Matt Anderson, a spokesman for the governor's budget office.
The groups have been working with Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, who says the harm from state cutbacks are mitigated, to a degree, by new FDA regulations.
"The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act gives the FDA the authority to regulate the manufacturing, marketing and sales of tobacco products. When fully implemented this act will help mitigate cuts at the state level," said the democrat in an email to News 10.
Ultimately, the group says these cuts mean more costs in the long run.
"Residents in New York pay a huge amount to treat tobacco-related illnesses," said Fischer.
By some estimates, more than $8 million per year.
The groups add that tobacco-related illnesses cost each New York household $900 per year in both direct and indirect health care costs.