Tobacco-Related Disparities in Specific Populations

Research

Discrimination may lead to smoking in boys
A new study investigating the link between discrimination and smoking among adolescents has found that minority teenage boys tend to smoke more when they experience discrimination. Black and Latino adolescents aged 12-19 were asked about how often they felt they were discriminated against and where the discrimination occurred. The results indicate that discrimination was associated with a 90% increase in the odds of smoking in boys, but a decreased risk of smoking among girls. The researchers believe that the difference comes from the context of the discrimination, and that the higher rates of smoking among boys could reflect the stress of experiencing discrimination from police and businesses. Click here to read more about the study, or read the abstract, published in the American Journal of Public Health.

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Reports

Elders Tobacco Project has elders talking about tobacco (MN)
A year-long pilot program in Minnesota has Native American elders speaking to Native smokers about the dangers of commercial tobacco and finding ways to build healthier relationships with tobacco through community strength and cultural values. Learning circles were used to teach the elders how to approach and speak to smokers in order to become tobacco control leaders in their communities. The elders will approach smokers in the Native community to speak with them about the health effects of tobacco, as well as provide insight into tribal culture and tradition. The program is sponsored by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, ClearWay for Community Academic Research, and the American Indian Policy Center. Click here to read more.

Ohio hopes to stop smoking by gay youth, others (OH)
The Ohio Department of Health has started a pilot program in the Cleveland area to prevent tobacco use among the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth and young adult population. ButtOut Ohio is an anti-tobacco social marketing campaign aiming to educate the LGBTQ population about the health risks associated with tobacco use and provide cessation messages and resources through outreach activities and events. The CDC estimates that tobacco use among the LGBTQ youth community is 60% higher than use among the general youth population. Click here to learn more about the project, or visit the ButtOut Ohio website.

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