Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Last Call for Free Nicotine Patches and Gum!
By
John Del Signore
Published May 6, 2009
Modified May 6, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published May 6, 2009
Modified May 6, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
If you're considering quitting smoking, you've got just one more day to take advantage of the Health Department's annual nicotine replacement therapy program, which hooks up aspiring quitters with free nicotine patches, gum, and advice on how to kick the coffin nails. The DOH reports that last year’s program prompted 30,000 New Yorkers to call 311 for help quitting smoking, and a new survey says the city has reached its lowest rate of smoking on record (15.8%), with less than 1 million adult smokers in the city—350,000 fewer than in 2002. Health experts credit the decline to skyrocketing cigarette taxes, bans on smoking in many public places, and a growing realization that lung cancer and tracheotomies just aren't that cool. However, a recent report from the CDC warned that adolescents are still particularly vulnerable to cigarettes' charms and have the toughtest time quitting. And a study published last month contends that non-smoking New Yorkers still suffer from second-hand smoke exposure to a "shocking" degree.
Tagged
new york
nyc
smoking
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC’s whiplash weather continues into weekend with heavy winds, chilly temps, NWS says
Friday expect scattered showers and thunder, cooler temperatures Saturday, and a sunny Sunday.
By
Monica Melton
Published Oct 16, 2026 at 10:22 a.m. ET
Early Addition: Winning an affordable housing lottery is great unless it's not
Because the apartment might be very small and not that affordable, here are your early links: Congestion pricing is paying for new subway elevators, G.W. Bridge has a new pedestrian walkway, not so many airplane barf bags and more.
By
James Ramsay
News
Early Addition: Winning an affordable housing lottery is great unless it's not
Because the apartment might be very small and not that affordable, here are your early links: Congestion pricing is paying for new subway elevators, G.W. Bridge has a new pedestrian walkway, not so many airplane barf bags and more.
By
James Ramsay
Mamdani and 100+ NY officials urge parking lot owners to ban ICE
By
Arya Sundaram
NYC ambulance response times have grown 41% as life-threatening calls rise
By
Ben Feuerherd
Federal judge tosses Trump administration lawsuit challenging NYC sanctuary laws
By
Phil Corso
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .