Bureau of Tobacco Control

1. Taxation: BTC advocates for cigarette tax increases to reduce tobacco consumption and to support cessation and education.
   
   
2. Legal Action: BTC supports the enforcement of anti-smoking laws enacted to protect the health of New York City residents from the harmful effects of smoking and second-hand smoke.
   
   
3. Cessation: BTC implements programs to expand the number and reach of cessation (quitting) sites throughout the five boroughs to increase the use of effective tobacco cessation treatment in health care and community settings. BTC provides technical assistance and training, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) patches to its partners for distribution and to the public directly, and comprehensive smoking cessation services to City employees.
   
   
4. Public Education: BTC develops and distributes a range of publications and materials to educate people and assist health care providers. BTC coordinates print, radio and television campaigns to promote messages on the dangers of tobacco and the benefits of quitting, and to change tobacco-related social norms.
   
   
5. Evaluation: BTC collects and analyzes data to track tobacco-related behaviors of New York City residents, and to assess the effectiveness of tobacco control programs.
   
   

For more information, call 311.

Last Update: January 21, 2009