Reducing Tobacco and E-Cigarette Use on Long Island
Despite the great progress we’ve made over the years to reduce tobacco use across the nation, tobacco and e-cigarette use still pose a health risk to Long Islanders today. According to the NYS Department of Health reportStatShots: Prevalence of Current Smoking Among Adults in New York State by County (2018), the statewide smoking prevalence is 12.8%. In Nassau County, 7.2% of adults are current smokers and in Suffolk County, 11.2% of adults are current smokers.
The NYS Department of Health report StatShots: Electronic Cigarette Use by Youth Increased 160% Between 2014 and 2018 shows adults aren’t the only ones using tobacco. While cigarette usage among high school students decreased by 82% from 2000 to 2018, that rate increased from 4.3% to 4.8% from 2016 to 2018. This marked the first increase in cigarette usage among youth in NY since 2000.
The report shows electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are more popular with youth than traditional cigarettes. From 2014 to 2018, the rate of e-cigarette use among high school youth jumped from 10.5% to 27.4%-- that’s a 160% increase.
While Nassau County has one of the lowest smoking rates in the state, there’s still work to be done to reduce smoking on Long Island.
Resources for Community Members, Hospitals Health Departments, and Community Partners
Hospital-Based Resources
Other Resources
- NYS Quitline Website: Free tools/support about how to quit, slips and relapses, considering quitting, helping someone quit, healthcare resources
- Stony Brook University Tobacco-Free Website: Facts, reasons to quit, cessation resources
- Suffolk County Department of Health Services Office of Health Education Smoking Cessation Webpage: Facts, smoking cessation program schedule for adults, school-based programs for youth
- Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island Website: Facts, cessation resources, cessation classes, initiatives
- New York Smoke Free: Tools and support for quitting, local programs, savings calculator, success stories, and more.
- Nicotine Anonymous Webpage: Find in-person, online, conference call meetings, connect with others, and more.
- The Butt Stops Here Cessation Program Webpage: Register for virtual programs that help you quit smoking—or vaping—from the comfort of your home.
More about the LIHC and the NYS Prevention Agenda
In alignment with the 2025-2030 New York State Prevention Agenda, the Long Island Health Collaborative believes every individual in New York State (and on Long Island!) should have the opportunity, regardless of background or circumstances, to attain their highest level of health across the lifespan. Learn more about the NYS Prevention Agenda here.