Lung Association & NYS Join Forces for a Tobacco-Free Long Island

The New York State Bureau of Tobacco Control recently awarded the American Lung Association a grant to continue programing for the Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island (TACLI). TACLI works to establish tobacco-free policies to make Long Island a healthier place to live, by educating community leaders, elected officials and the general public.

“Nassau and Suffolk Counties – and many of the local towns on Long Island - have been trailblazers when it comes to tobacco policy. They led the way on raising the age of sale of all tobacco products and they are among a growing list of municipalities that are prohibiting the sale of tobacco in pharmacies,” said PJ Tedeschi, Director of Tobacco Action Coalition of LI. “With this grant we can continue the important work we are doing to ensure Long Islanders have the tools they need to live healthier tobacco-free lives.”

The grant charges TACLI to continue to foster environments supportive of policies that reinforce the tobacco-free norm in local communities. These efforts will support the prevention and reduction of tobacco use through strategic youth action and community engagement.
TACLI’s priority focus will be on health inequities that occur in disparate populations that are disproportionally affected by tobacco use. Key strategic goals of the program include highlighting the health impacts of tobacco; educating the public on the dangers of flavored tobacco products in combustible and non-combustible tobacco products, including those used in electronic vapor products; the impact flavors have on youth initiation;reducing the impact of tobacco marketing on youth and adults; working towards the eliminationof youth exposure to tobacco imagery in youth-rated movies, as well as reducing youth tobacco use; and increasing opportunities for tobacco-free worksites and outdoor areas.

“The work of the Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island is critical to educating our communities on the continued dangers of tobacco,” said Michael Seilback, National Assistant Vice President, State Public Policy, American Lung Association. “Youth e-cigarette use is an epidemic and tobacco remains the number one cause of preventable death and disease in New York. Only through sustained evidence-based initiatives will we be able to eliminate the tobacco use epidemic.”

The American Lung Associationreceived similar awards for 3 additional Advancing Tobacco Free Communities grants from NYS DOH Bureau of Tobacco Control for POW’R Against Tobacco (Putnam, Orange, Westchester, Rockland), Smoking and Health Action Coalition (Monroe, Livingston), and Tobacco Action Coalition of the Finger Lakes (Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Yates).

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About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to improve the air we breathe; to reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and their families; and to eliminate tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.

About New York State Bureau of Tobacco Control
The NYS Tobacco Control Program is made up of a network of statewide contractors who work on Advancing Tobacco-Free Communities, which includes Community Engagement and Reality Check, the Health Systems for a Tobacco-Free New York, the NYS Smokers’ Quitline and Surveillance and Research. Their efforts are leading the way toward a tobacco-free society. For more information, visit TobaccoFreeNYS.org, TobaccoFreeNY.organd NYSmokeFree.Com.