Survey: Lower incomes linked to higher cigarette use

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, 12% of all adults in New York smoke cigarettes. Of these smokers, 20.4% are adults earning less than $25,000 a year and 19% are unemployed adults.

Coinciding with the prevalence of smoking for those with lower incomes, the CDC also reports that this group has a higher incidence of tobacco-related diseases than those with higher incomes. Tobacco use is also higher in uninsured groups or people with public insurance like Medicaid versus adults with private insurance or Medicare.

While it can be difficult to quit, especially if one has been smoking long-term, it is doable and it's never too late. There are free resources to aid in a person's quitting journey so they can live a smoke-free life.

The New York State Quitline is available for all New Yorkers struggling to quit and aims to provide access to resources for those with lower incomes. New Yorkers can call (866) 697-8487 or text (716) 309-4688 to speak with a coach who will talk with you about your struggles.

The NY Quitline also has tips for how to quit smoking, how to stay tobacco-free, and resources for quitting vaping or e-cigarettes. The website speaks on triggers, including what they are, when to avoid them, and tips for handling unavoidable ones. It also has free nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges available for those in need of a nicotine replacement to aid in the quitting process.