By Mark Scott
Albany, NY – The State Health Department says smokers with children have a greater motivation to give up the habit.
Health Commissioner Richard Daines says a recent survey conducted by his department found that 76 percent of smokers living with kids are more likely to quit. He says the health risks to others can be a greater incentive for smokers to quit than the dangers it poses to themselves.
The survey found that among New York's approximately 2.7 million smokers, about one million live with children in the household. Parents who smoke around their kids may contribute to health problems like respiratory infections, ear infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
The study also found that 42 percent of smokers with children don't allow smoking in their home, compared with 26 percent of smokers without children.
Russ Sciandra, director of the Center for a Tobacco Free New York says people are increasingly aware that cigarette smoke harms the people around them. He says that just gives a them one more motivation to quit.