New York, 15 sep (EFE).-more than one third of New Yorkers stopped smoking since the launch now nine years ago of an aggressive campaign to reduce tobacco use among the population, announced today the Mayor of the Big Apple, Michael Bloomberg.
The number addicted to nicotine in New York has decreased by 35% (450,000 people) since the year 2002, when it entered into force the first law prohibiting smoking in offices, bars and restaurants, and currently only smokes 14% of the population, the lowest level in the history
“Tobacco is the leading cause of premature and avoidable deaths in New York and United States, and we are proud that a record number of New Yorkers are saving their lives leaving the cigarette”, said today the Mayor, who emphasized that this trend will help prevent 50,000 premature deaths by 2052.
, The head of the Department of health of New York, Thomas Farley, highlighted the progress being made in the fight against the person responsible for the largest number of deaths in the city, although regretted that this year will die because of tobacco other 7,000 New Yorkers.
According to the data provided by the City Council, the number of adolescents addicted to nicotine in New York has fallen “dramatically” from 2001 to 2010 in a city where the smoke only 7% of the boys who come to the Institute, compared to 18% of nine years earlier.
After the first anti-smoking law passed in 2002 by the team of Bloomberg, New York in 2009 expanded the veto on the cigarette at the entrances of hospitals and clinics, and last may smoking outlawed even in parks, beaches, promenades, squares and areas pedestrian.
The Bloomberg administration anti-smoking measures have the majority of New Yorkers, although some groups of smokers, such as the Clash, Association consider that legislation is excessive.
Currently, the only places in the city in which smoking is allowed are sidewalks, parking lots and private houses, though increasingly more homeowners are forbid to their tenants.
New York expanded in 2009 veto cigarette at the entrances of hospitals and medical centers, and last may smoking outlawed even in parks, beaches, promenades, squares and pedestrian areas. EFE/file
