New Haven Launches Citywide Stop-Smoking Effort

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- The mayor of New Haven has launched a citywide stop-smoking effort.

Mayor Toni Harp said perhaps as many as one in every five people in New Haven smoke and she's now making it more difficult to light up,  WCBS 880's Fran Schneidau reported.

Smoking is already banned in most restaurants and public buildings as well as all city parks.

"We're really trying to use everything that we can to encourage people not to smoke, so if they're going to smoke, they're going to have to smoke at home," Harp said.

Harp said the city wants to raise public awareness about the dangers of smoking.

"One of the things that I have learned about tobacco is that it is more addictive than heroin," Harp said. "It is a physical addiction, you need help to get off of it and we are offering that help in New Haven."

The mayor said plans are underway to provide free nicotine patches to smokers joining this citywide effort.