American Lung Association Working to Reduce Tobacco Use and Exposure to Secondhand Smoke in the Bronx

NEW YORK, NY (06/05/2012)(readMedia)-- The American Lung Association is committed to reducing tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, particularly among populations that are disproportionately impacted by tobacco-related health disparities.

To support the American Lung Association in New York's targeted efforts to improve health equity, the American Lung Association National Headquarters is providing $120,000 over a 16-month period as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Expanding Smokefree Communities, Community Transformation Grants (CTG) Program.

New York City has made considerable progress toward reducing tobacco use, and recent trends show a continuous decline in prevalence. However, such positive trends mask the substantial burden of tobacco related morbidity and mortality that continues to persist among low income, less-educated, and underserved racial/ethnic minority populations.

According to the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, the South Bronx has one of the highest smoking rates in the city. With a tobacco use rate of 19%, the South Bronx is suffering from high exposure to secondhand smoke, and high rates of disease and illness related to tobacco. In order to create a healthier Bronx, the American Lung Association in New York is proposing to expand tobacco control efforts by promoting voluntary smokefree policies among Bronx low-income housing facilities.

"Tobacco use is the most preventable cause of disease and death worldwide, responsible for 443,000 deaths annually. Furthermore, exposure to secondhand smoke kills an estimated 50,000 Americans, including children, per year. The American Lung Association is committed to reducing the burden of tobacco use on our nation's health. We are excited to use this opportunity to implement smokefree policies right here in New York City," said Jeff Seyler, President & CEO of the American Lung Association of the Northeast.

In September 2011, the American Lung Association was funded by the National Dissemination and Support Initiative of CDC's CTG Program. The "Accelerating the Spread and Reach of CTG Strategies in Communities Nationwide" Activity Area involves mobilizing national networks to increase the reach of the CTG program by empowering communities to implement projects proven to reduce chronic diseases.

This project of the American Lung Association in New York is one of six among five local Lung Associations across the country to receive funding through the CTG Program. The American Lung Association in the Northeast received funding for two different projects; the program in the South Bronx, as well as an initiative to reduce tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure among tribal nations in the state of Maine.

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About the American Lung Association of the Northeast

The American Lung Association of the Northeast is part of the American Lung Association, the oldest voluntary health organization in the U.S. Established in 1904 to combat tuberculosis; our mission today is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. The focus is on air quality, asthma, tobacco control, and all lung disease. The American Lung Association in the Northeast serves CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI and VT. www.LungNE.org