HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES THAT SMOKING IN PARKS DECREASED BY TWO-THIRDS ONE YEAR AFTER BAN The Health Department announced that, one year after a ban on smoking in parks and beaches took effect, smoking in select City parks declined by two-thirds between the fall of 2010 and the fall of 2011. The Department also found that smoking-related litter on beaches declined by about two-thirds between the summer of 2010 and 2011, and there was a significant decrease in smoking litter on playgrounds, where smoking has been banned since 2002. The results are based on an observational study conducted by DOHMH.
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New Health Department TV Spot Shows Dangers Of Prescription Painkiller Misuse The New York City Health Department this week launched a new TV campaign as part of the Bloomberg Administration’s ongoing effort to curb rising abuse and overdoses from prescription painkillers. The 30-second spot underscores the serious health consequences of misusing these drugs, which are called opioids. These drugs are prescribed by doctors but when misused can lead to addiction or fatal overdose. The release of the ad follows the publication in December 2011 of Health Department guidance to physicians on how to prescribe these more carefully, and the formation of the Mayor’s Task Force on Prescription Painkiller Abuse, co-chaired by Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs and Chief Policy Advisor John Feinblatt. Read the press release See the 30-second spot youtube video
NEW YORK CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES “LATCH ON NYC” INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT BREASTFEEDING MOTHERS New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley launched “Latch On NYC,” a new citywide initiative to support mothers who breastfeed their infants by asking city maternity hospitals to voluntarily sign on to support a mother’s choice to breastfeed and limit the promotion of infant formula in their facilities which can interfere with that decision. Read the press release Latch On NYC Learn about breastfeeding See the subway ads See the hospital posters
City Announces Decrease in Foodborne Illness and Increase in Restaurant Revenue Since Letter Grading Began Salmonella infections, an important indicator of foodborne illness, fell 14 percent during letter grading’s first full year to the lowest level in the last 20 years. In addition, total restaurant sales in NYC increased 9.3 percent – $800 million – in the first nine months since grading began compared to the year before. Read the Mayor's press release Restaurant Letter Grading: the First 18 Months (PDF) See the subway ads See the preview for iPhone and iPad app
Deputy Mayor Gibbs, Chief Policy Advisor Feinblatt and Health Commissioner Farley Release Latest Data on Opioids Deputy Mayor Linda I. Gibbs, Chief Policy Advisor John Feinblatt and Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley released new data showing that opioid painkiller prescriptions are rising in New York City and that 8,000 health care providers (15 percent) prescribe the majority of the drugs (82 percent). Read the press release Read the report: Opioid Analgesics in New York City: Prescriber Practices
Centers for Disease Control Launches National Campaign Using New York City Health Department’s “Man Eating Sugar” Spot The New York City Health Department announced that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will air the Health Department’s “Man Eating Sugar” spot – originally created for YouTube as part of the “Pouring on the Pounds” campaign – as a televised ad as part of a national obesity prevention media initiative. The ad will air in New York City as well as media markets across the country, from Hawaii to Maine. Read the press release Learn more Man Eating Sugar video on YouTube Eating Healthy NYC Facebook page
Dr. Farley has Joined Twitter Dr. Tom Farley, the Commissioner of the New York City Health Department, is officially on Twitter. Follow him @DrFarleyDOHMH. Follow @DrFarleyDOHMH
Highlights
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