According to NYC’s health department, there’s been a significant reduction in deaths by tobacco. Just look at these impressive numbers. Last year, 7,200 people died from smoking-related illnesses compared to 8,700 in 2002, the year that Mayor Bloomberg kicked off the start of his aggressive anti-smoking campaign. They cite the city’s graphic ads and the mayor’s ban on cigarettes in bars and restaurants as major contributing factors. Making them more expensive than illicit drugs probably helped too.