WHAT’S NEW
Tobacco Retailer Saturation
A recent article in the Daily Gazette focused on the rising concern over the saturation of tobacco retailers in the Capital District. Capital Region cities, particularly in low-income, minority, and youth-populated areas, face an oversaturation of tobacco retailers compared to affluent suburbs. Hamilton Hill, a low-income neighborhood in Schenectady has 18 active tobacco retailers serving just 7,500 residents. In contrast, Niskayuna, a more affluent community in Schenectady has only 3 active tobacco retailers. While overall state tobacco use is declining, concerns exist over rising youth "openness" to smoking, the proliferation of new products like nicotine pouches, and the concentration of retail outlets in urban neighborhoods. Minority communities continue to use the products at a disproportionate rate, which studies and...
Youth Openness to Cigarette Smoking in New York has Reached Highest Level on Record
The New York State Department of Health announced the release of new data showing that approximately 1 in 5 students who have never smoked now report being "open" to the idea, the highest level on record since the state began collecting the data in 2000. Openness to smoking is defined as not having made a firm decision to avoid cigarette smoking in the near future. Thanks to effective prevention efforts, New York State has nearly eliminated youth smoking—2.4% in 2024, down from 27% in 2000. This new openness report, however, highlights a concerning shift in attitudes. Since nearly all cigarette use begins during adolescence, this increase in youth openness to smoking is an important early warning sign for future cigarette use....
Youth Art Highlights the Environmental Cost of Tobacco Waste
We recently launched a paid media campaign that turned attention to an often-overlooked issue, the environmental impact of tobacco waste. The campaign featured original artwork created by Albany High School photography students under the guidance of teacher David Easton. The project gives young people a platform to share their perspective on how tobacco products affect the world around them. To maximize visibility the artwork was displayed on CDTA bus stops, CDTA infotainment screens, digital mobile ads, digital kiosks at Crossgates Mall and table wraps in the mall food court. Additionally, our Reality Check members made radio ads that were broadcast on iHeart Media radio stations throughout the Capital Region. This campaign stands as a strong example of how youth creativity and public health initiatives can come together to...
To the left is a typical tobacco product display. If you don’t use tobacco, you may not even notice, but kids do. Kids see. Kids notice. Kids remember. In fact, kids are more than twice as likely as adults to notice and remember retail tobacco marketing.
