BUFFALO, N.Y. — Alma Diaz, a tobacco treatment specialist for the NYS Quitline, knows that an addiction to cigarettes does not discriminate by race or ethnicity. Diaz spoke with Spectrum News 1 in Spanish to help reach Spanish speaking viewers.

“I like this job because I have obtained skills that I can use in my personal life. I have family that smokes, so I like to help them. And in my culture, cigarettes are more crucial because people work hard and have a lot of stress,” said Diaz.

What You Need To Know

  • Learning how to start the quitting process of smoking or vaping can be difficult, especially when resources lack in communicating with those who have a language barrier

  • According to data from the American Lung Society in 2022, roughly 12% of New Yorkers smoke, impacting white and Hispanic people comparatively

  • New York State Quitline launched a Spanish texting service to help Spanish speakers quit smoking

According to data from the American Lung Society in 2022, roughly 12% of New Yorkers smoke, impacting white and Hispanic people comparatively.

“We wanted to make the process as easy as possible to feel that when they’re getting messages to quit something that is so addictive like commercial tobacco products, that they can feel more empowered to make those changes because its speaking to them,” said Tony Astran, communications manager for New York State Quitline.

This is why New York State Quitline launched “Vivir sin tabaco es Vida,” a free Spanish-language texting program designed to help Hispanic and Latinx communities.

“The biggest impact is that we offer communication, that we are trying to connect with the person in their language and also trying to help connect culturally because that is a huge part in people connecting with us,” Diaz said. 

The Spanish texting program is offered in four of the most popular Spanish dialects — Caribbean, Mexican, Central and South American — to help continue lower smoking rates across the state.

“Yes, rates are lowering, but now it’s about reaching those who are hardest to reach. We know in New York state there is a large number of people who speak Spanish,” Astran said.

“Whether they’re not great at English, learning English or even just simply prefer to have that Spanish, it's there and it will really help to empower them, speak to them and help feel more geared up,” Astran said. 

“When a person is trying to renounce tobacco completely, they feel alone, which is normal, but we have a texting program that is helping continue to remind you that you can do it and it is possible,” said Diaz.