On the front page of WSN today, you will find an article on a new proposal by New York Gov. David Paterson to cut $10 million from the state anti-smoking program.
The WSN Editorial Board doesn't think this cut, which takes money that funds free nicotine and anti-smoking advertising, is necessarily good. But we don't think it's the worst cut that could have been made.
The budget cuts will eliminate free nicotine patches for Medicaid users. This probably wasn't the best move the state could have made, since one of the aims of the anti-smoking campaign is to help smokers rid themselves of their addiction. Since the free nicotine patches are actually something that serve a vital purpose, the state could have reconsidered this specific cut.
But we completely agree that the state should eliminate anti-smoking advertising. There are a plethora of anti-smoking lobbyists that pour millions into advertising annually, so the state can afford to cut back on their programs.
Audrey Silk is the founder of New York City Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment. She commented in the article that the budget cuts shouldn't cause an uproar, especially considering how the excessive amount of anti-smoking propaganda still hasn't caused many smokers to cease from lighting up. The board thinks this is a legitimate argument and should be taken into consideration. Are we wasting our time and resources on people who will never leave their addiction?
The editorial board has written about smoking in the past, including NYU's potential smoking ban near campus buildings. Though the state budget cuts are a separate issue from what we have commented on before, we still stand firmly in our support of realistic bans.
Also, we believe it's important that students who do smoke and are considering quitting know there are resources on campus to help them. Check the Student Health Center's website to find a wide array of ways to give up this habit. While the state budget cut most likely won't have an effect on their lives, the health center very much does.
