New Yorkers are shelling out nearly $4,000 a year to smoke as the state posts the highest cigarette prices in the country, according to the Times of Wayne County.
A new analysis shows an average pack costs $14.55, pushing statewide spending past $563 million even as smoking rates inch down. The report also ranks global trends, with Australia, the UK, and New Zealand leading declines thanks to strict vaping rules and high cigarette taxes.
Health experts warn the financial burden is minor compared to the oral and cancer risks tied to nicotine, and state and local programs continue offering free cessation support.
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