To the editor:

In 2025, cigarette smoking still remains the number one cause of preventable death in the U.S. — and it’s also a major cause of chronic disease. Smokers are much more likely to develop a chronic disease, and individuals with a chronic health condition are at much higher risk of their condition worsening due to smoking.

The most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reveals that nearly one-third — 30% — of all cancer deaths in the country are caused by cigarette smoking. It’s also the cause of at least 25% of all deaths from cardiovascular disease. Additionally, smoking causes approximately 80% of all deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and increases the risk of a person developing Type 2 diabetes by 30 to 40%.

The human toll caused by these links between smoking and chronic disease is staggering, but it also has a tremendous impact on our already strained health care system. Chronic conditions like heart disease, cancer and diabetes generate nearly $1 trillion in medical costs and lost productivity annually, according to a 2024 study by the CDC — and that figure doesn’t include a whole host of other chronic conditions.

Fortunately, here in the North Country, health care providers, public health agencies and other community health organizations are working together to address both tobacco cessation and chronic disease prevention and management — in some cases, at the same time.

North Country Nicotine Consultants (NCNC), a collaborative effort between The Heart Network and Glens Falls Hospital, delivers free resources to medical and behavioral health care providers that are proven to help people quit. NCNC also urges individuals to speak with their providers when they’re ready to quit, which can increase their chances of success by 20 to 30%. NCNC also promotes the NYS Quitline — 1-866-NY-QUITS or online at nysmokefree.com — which connects smokers with certified tobacco treatment specialists and free nicotine replacement therapy medications.

Free resources for people with chronic health conditions are also available through Get Healthy North Country. This service offers in-person, virtual and telephonic workshops to help people feel better and take control of their health; programs cover a range of topics including diabetes, cancer, chronic pain and more. The entire slate of ongoing and upcoming workshops is available at gethealthynoco.org.

Being proactive with your health has significant ramifications not just for yourself, but for our communities as a whole. We encourage you to take advantage of the incredible free resources in our region.

Brielle Carnright

Saranac Lake