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NYS Smoking Rates Highest Upstate According to Excellus Report

uhaweb.hartford.edu

A new report from Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield says the prevalence of smoking is higher for adults in Upstate New York than the state as a whole or nationally.

The report says almost 21-percent of Upstate adults smoke, compared to just over 16-percent statewide and 18-percent across the U.S.

New York smoking rates peak in the age group between 25 and 34. Smoking is more common in adults who don't have a high school diploma and who have incomes below $15,000.

But those who want to quit smoking have more help now, according to Dr. Jamie Kerr, a vice president at Excellus.

"With the Affordable Care Act and the provisions that are targeted towards preventive services, smoking cessation is a preventive service which really available under most plans and doesn't have a co-pay associated with it."

The Finger Lakes region had the lowest Upstate adult smoking rate at 18.1 percent.  The Western New York region was the highest at 22.7 percent

Beth Adams joined WXXI as host of Morning Edition in 2012 after a more than two-decade radio career. She was the longtime host of the WHAM Morning News in Rochester. Her career also took her from radio stations in Elmira, New York, to Miami, Florida.