'Our shared goal is to motivate smokers to quit and build expectations and confidence that the best response to the tax increase is to quit smoking altogether,' says Iverson.

Building off of the exceptional work that has already taken place in the Lower Hudson Valley over the years, the Tobacco Control Partners will continue in their efforts to motivate smokers to quit through their key community initiatives and to help prevent youth from starting. Along with their partners ' POW'R Against Tobacco, POW'R to be Tobacco Free Cessation Center, Reality Check Youth Action Program and Tobacco-Free Schools ' they will continue to work within their communities to reduce the number of smokers.

The New York State Tobacco Control Program's goal is to have one million fewer smokers by 2010.

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