If you're a smoker, you already have a million reasons to quit, and you know that. But we're going to give you one more: New York is one of the worst states for smokers.

You already know the health risks and dangers associated with smoking, and the dangers to others when it comes to secondhand smoke. We're not going to lecture you on that. Actually, we're not going to lecture you on anything. Smoking is a very, VERY difficult habit to break, we know. We just want to give you more knowledge in your fight, another reason to remember when you start (or continue) your quitting smoking journey.

The good people at WalletHub broke down the "Real Cost of Smoking" for each state. We already know that cigarettes are expensive, but there are other costs involved. According to WalletHub, Americans spend more than $300 BILLION on smoking, that includes buying cigarettes, the cost of lost productivity at work, medical costs, and other factors.

With those combined numbers, New York is paying the MOST when it comes to smoking. According to the findings from WalletHub, the average smoker in New York costs $45,694 a year! That's a lot of money going up in smoke... Literally. You can see the full list of states and how they rank when it comes to the cost of smoking by visiting: WalletHub.com/financial-cost-of-smoking-by-state

If you smoke, you've probably done the math of how much a pack costs you and how much you spend a year on cigarettes. But most people don't look into the other costs that sometimes have to come out of their own pocket - Like more visits to the doctor's office (smokers are more likely to get colds and respiratory infections, compared to non-smokers).

And not only the cost aspect of smoking, but New York is still pretty rough in other areas for smokers. Just look at what the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium has done; If you're there for an event or hockey game, there is no re-entry. Which means you can't go have a smoke. And they're not the only place doing that, many locations throughout the state have banned smoking on their premises. There's no smoking at the Utica Zoo, the New Hartford Shopping Center, and many other places right here in Central New York.

Whether you care about the numbers or costs, or not, quitting smoking is one of the best choices you can make for your life. It's a decision you have to make on your own, and be ready for it, but we hope if you've been considering it, this article can give you the final push in the right direction. If not, maybe save it for later reading. It may be just the reminder you need, down the road.

And there are many options for quitting smoking help in New York, with many programs being free or being covered under your insurance. You can visit: NYSmokeFree.com for more information, or call: 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487).

 


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