Tobacco-Related Disparities in Specific Populations

Research

Secondhand smoke takes big illness, expense toll
A new study published in the American Journal of Public Health discusses the health and economic impact of secondhand smoke by racial/ethnic group. Data from over 12,000 adults was assessed to analyze the number of deaths, years of potential life lost, and the value of lost productivity in 2006. African Americans had significantly higher levels of exposure to secondhand smoke in 2006 compared to whites, and the highest exposure was among black men ages 45 to 64 (64%). Additionally, an estimated 24 to 36% of African American infant deaths were related to mothers smoking during pregnancy. According to this study, two adult and four infant secondhand smoke related conditions resulted in 42,000 deaths, 600,000 years of potential life lost, and $6.6 billion in lost productivity in 2006. This study provides evidence that there are significant health disparities related to race and secondhand smoke exposure. Click here to read more. Click here to read the study abstract.

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Reports

Sexual/gender minorities and tobacco use disorder: Implications for medical homes
The Network for LGBT Health Equity released a new document titled Sexual/Gender Minorities and Tobacco Use Disorder: Implications for Medical Homes. This document discusses various topics regarding tobacco use in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities such as a lack of access to cessation programs and strategies to reach the LGBT community with cessation efforts. This document was a collaborative project of the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Click here to download a copy.

New report on tobacco in pharmacies in Asian American neighborhoods (NY)
A recent report released by Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) and the New York City (NYC) Coalition for a Smoke-Free City discussed the prevalence of tobacco product sales and advertising in pharmacies in the city. An assessment of 45 pharmacies in several boroughs including Manhattan, where Chinatown is located, found that there were 180 pharmacies and more than 500 licensed tobacco retailers. Among the pharmacies where the AAFE conducted complete observations, 64% of licensed independent pharmacies no longer sold tobacco products compared to 94% of chain pharmacies that continued to sell tobacco products. Tobacco advertising was found to still be an issue, as 92% of all the pharmacies had some kind of tobacco advertising inside the store. The Coalition and AAFE support the notion that the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies is a conflict of interest, as pharmacies are supposed to promote health and wellness. Click here to read more. Click here to access the full report.

Oklahoma program targets tobacco use in black population (OK)
The Oklahoma City-based agency, Guiding Right Inc. has collaborated with ministers and businesses to discourage tobacco use among the black community in Oklahoma. Guiding Right Inc. is an organization that works to eliminate health disparities in at-risk populations and is working with black churches, hair salons, and barbershops to help spread the word about the negative health effects of tobacco use. Guiding Right Inc. is targeting these establishments, as they are considered staples in the black community and places where black community members spend a lot of time. The organization hopes that enlisting ministers and respected members of the black community to educate people about the health consequences of smoking and the dangers of secondhand smoke will be an effective way to reach the community. Click here to read more.

Barriers to effective tobacco-dependence treatment for the very poor (WI)
An assessment of the beliefs about smoking and quitting among low-income populations was recently conducted. Nearly 700 participants categorized as very poor (annual income less than $15,000) in two Wisconsin ZIP codes were surveyed regarding their beliefs about smoking and attempts to quit smoking. About 42% of the participants reported being smokers, and on average, smokers had tried to quit three times during their lifetime. Half of the participants had tried to quit in the past year, and 37.7% had never tried to quit. Almost half (47.8%) reported that quitting was extremely important. The researchers state that data on beliefs and attitudes about smoking is important when addressing tobacco use in low-income populations. Click here to read the abstract of the article published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

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