Facts about AFRICAN AMERICANS and Tobacco

• Approximately 45,000 African Americans die annually from a preventable smoking related disease. The smoking rate for higher for Hoosier African Americans is around the United States.
• Smoking significantly elevates the risk of stroke, heart disease, and cancers (87%), yet African Americans continue to smoke knowing the risks and are 50% more likely to develop lung cancer than white men.
• More than 25% of African American youth are exposed to secondhand smoke at home and in cars which causes more respiratory illnesses, middle ear infections, and allergies than children with non smoking parents.
• Most African Americans report wanting to quit, or ready to make a quit attempt, yet fewer African American smokers have successfully quit than smokers of other race/ethnicities.
• The tobacco industry attempts to maintain a positive image and public support among African Americans by supporting cultural events and making contributions to minority higher education institutions, elected officials, civic and community organizations, and scholarship programs, but the true intentions are to keep the product name in front of minority populations to keep selling products.
• Approximately 3 out of 4 smokers prefer menthol cigarettes, and inhale deeper than non-menthol cigarettes which causes more tobacco related diseases.
• Smoking blunts has become widespread among teens and young adults due to the Hip Hop stars, posters, and videos glamorizing the practice. A Blunt is marijuana rolled into a cigar skin. Fruit flavored skins look and smell like fruit rolls, but they are a deadly combination.
• We must encourage all minority communities to resist the temptations of tobacco advertising and identifying the stressors that encourage smoking. We must encourage identifying educational sources and cessation services to assist in the quit attempt.
• Please contact ETCN organizations to get involved in programs like: “Not in Mama’s Kitchen”, Project Faith, NAATEN, Hoosier Faith and Health Coalition, and many other programs to help.

Facts about HISPANICS and Tobacco

• Hispanics generally have lower rates of smoking than other racial/ethnic groups with the exception of Asian Americans, but it is a significant risk factor for cancer, heart disease and stroke (the leading causes of death among Latinos).
• There are significant variations in smoking rates among Hispanic subgroups.
• In 2003, 27.7 of Cuban Americans smoked compared to 20.1 percent of Puerto Ricans, percent of Mexican-Americans, and 13.0 percent of Dominicans and 11.8 percent of Central-South Americans.
• Puerto Rican women are nearly twice as likely to smoke as women of other Hispanic groups.
• Puerto Ricans and Cuban Americans are much more likely to be heavy smokers than other Hispanic groups.
• Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among Latinos. Lung cancer deaths among Latino men are three times higher than for Latino women.
• The smoking rate for Latinos in Indiana is slightly higher than the all-states median for Latinos.
• 32% of Latino smokers report planning to quit within the next 30 days compared to 55% stating they expect to quit in the next six months.
• 75% of Latinos believe smoking should not be allowed in the workplace, and believe that exposure to secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard.
• The tobacco industry is targeting Latinos by supporting cultural events and making contributions to elected officials, civic and community organizations, and intensive merchandising, but the true intentions are to keep the product name in front of minority populations to keep selling products.
• We must encourage all minority communities to resist the temptations of tobacco advertising and identifying the stressors that encourage smoking. We must encourage identifying educational sources and cessation services to assist in the quit attempt.
• Please contact ETCN to get connected to the Indiana Latino Institute and to get involved in programs like: La Ventanilla de Salud at the Mexican Consulate, Latino Health Fairs, Conco DeMayo, Fiesta Indianapolis, Copa Mexico de Fu’tbol / Soccer Tournament P.A.T.A., and many other programs to help

Facts about AMERICAN INDIAN / ALASKA NATIVES and Tobacco

• Among racial and ethnic groups, the prevelance of current smoking is the highest among American Indians/Alaska Natives.
• American Indian and Alaska Native youth have access to cheap tobacco products at a young age, and it is considered a sacred gift and used during religious ceremonies.
• American Indian and Alaska Natives young adults have the highest rates of current smoking compared to other racial / ethnic groups.
• Even though they have the highest rates of current smoking, they tend to be less heavy smokers.
• Chronic smoking and spit tobacco use increases their risk of developing tobacco-related health problems.

Facts about WOMEN and Tobacco

• Women continue to decrease the gap between individual smoking rates, and share a much larger burden of smoking related diseases.
• Current female smokers age 35 or older are 12 times more likely than nonsmoking females to die prematurely from lung cancer (approximately 72,000 women in 2006).
• Smoking is directly responsible for 80% of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) deaths in women each year.
• Cigarette smoking related illnesses kills an average of 178,000 women each year (and shortens potential life span by 14.5 years).
• Women who smoke also have an increased risk for developing cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, kidney, bladder, and uterine cervix.

Facts about PREGNANT WOMEN and Tobacco

• The rate of Indiana mothers who reported smoking during pregnancy is considerably higher than the national average.
• Cigarette smoking during pregnancy can cause serious health problems for both mother and child… premature birth, low birth weight for infants, still birth, and infant death.
• Mothers can pass nicotine to their infant through breast milk, and can prevent oxygen from reaching through the placenta.
• Infants are more likely to develop colds, asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory diseases if secondhand smoke is present in the home, daycares, or cars.
• Pregnant smokers have a higher incidence of ectopic pregnancy, and a 30-50% higher risk for miscarriage than nonsmokers.
• Prenatal cigarette smoking is harmful to the mental development of infants and children.
• In 2003, American Indiana and Alaska Native women had the highest rate of smoking during pregnancy compared to all other racial groups.
• The most effective way to protect the fetus is to quit smoking (it’s never too late).
• Women who quit smoking greatly reduce their risk of developing smoking related diseases.