The impact of cigarette excise tax increases on purchasing behaviors among New York city smokers.

Objectives: We examined the relationship between cigarette excise tax increases and tax-avoidant purchasing behaviors among New York City adult smokers.

Methods: We analyzed data from the city's annual Community Health Survey to assess changes in rates of tax avoidance over time (2003-2010) and smokers' responses to the 2008 state cigarette tax increase. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified correlates of buying more cigarettes on the street in response to the increase.

Awareness and impact of New York City's graphic point-of-sale tobacco health warning signs.

Background: To increase knowledge of smoking-related health risks and provide smoking cessation information at the point of sale, in 2009, New York City required the posting of graphic point-of-sale tobacco health warnings in tobacco retailers. This study is the first to evaluate the impact of such a policy in the USA.

Methods: Cross-sectional street-intercept surveys conducted among adult current smokers and recent quitters before and after signage implementation assessed the awareness and impact of the signs.

Evaluating New York City's smoke-free parks and beaches law: a critical multiplist approach to assessing behavioral impact.

This article describes the evaluation of the law banning smoking in New York City's parks and beaches that went into effect in 2011. We discuss the practical and methodological challenges that emerged in evaluating this law, and describe how we applied the principles of critical multiplism to address these issues. The evaluation uses data from three complementary studies, each with a unique set of strengths and weaknesses that can provide converging evidence for the effectiveness of the law.

Correlates of illicit methadone use in New York City: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Despite growing concern about illicit methadone use in the US and other countries, there is little data about the prevalence and correlates of methadone use in large urban areas. We assessed the prevalence and examined correlates of lifetime and recent illicit methadone use in New York City (NYC).

Methods: 1,415 heroin, crack, and cocaine users aged 15-40 years were recruited in NYC between 2000 and 2004 to complete interviewer-administered questionnaires.