Aleah Gathings, MPH, worked with the Manhattan Smoke-Free Partnership in East Harlem until Summer 2024 when she moved to Chicago to attend Law School. Ms. Gathings will continue to be part of the HHPC Health Advisory Board. Here she tells us about what secondhand smoke is and what to do if you are a non-smoker living with a smoker.

Aleah Gathings, MPH, worked hard to educate Harlem residents about the health risks of smoking and how they can quit before she left for Chicago to attend law school in the summer of 2024. From her work at the District Public Health Office of East and Central Harlem, she gives us valuable information about quitting that is geared toward the Harlem community.

Before heading of to law school in Chicago in the summer of 2024, Aleah Gathings, MPH, was the program manager for the Manhattan Smoke-Free Partnership, located at the East and Central Harlem District Public Health Office. The Manhattan Smoke-Free Partnership is part of the New York State Tobacco Control Program, which aims to make New York a smoke-free place. Here, Aleah tells us about her role while working in Harlem.

Nicotine is the main "ingredient" in cigarettes that makes people become addicted. When it comes time to quit smoking, it is the nicotine that our bodies crave the most, and the lack of nicotine that makes our bodies feel badly.

Why do I need to tell the pharmacist if I drink alcohol or smoke regularly?

If you drink alcohol or smoke, it is important to mention this to your pharmacist.

1.      Set a quit date and stick to it - this can greatly improve your chances of success! The sooner the better. Once you decide to quit and set your quit date...

Since the cigarette tax increase of June 2024, the average price of a pack of cigarettes in New York City is over $8.00. At that price, a pack-a-day smoker will spend $240 per month and almost $3,000 per year on cigarettes.

November is diabetes awareness month, a month to quit smoking and National Hispanic Heritage month. GetHealthyHarlem has a wealth of articles to raise awareness about these issues and tips on how to manage them.