Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Tobacco Use

Tobacco is the single most preventable cause of death for AAPIs. Although national tobacco use data often indicates AAPIs have the lowest smoking prevalence among all ethnic groups in the U.S., local studies have shown there are high rates in certain AAPI ethnic subgroups (i.e. 48-72% among Laotian men and 42% among Native Hawaiian men). National aggregated data often fails to recognize the diversity among AAPIs and by doing so disguises the true impact of tobacco in the community.

Tobacco companies aggressively market their products to AAPI communities both in the U.S. and overseas.
Tobacco is the number one preventable cause of death for all groups, including AAPIs.
Smoking prevalence is highest in the U.S among males in certain AAPI ethnic groups (e.g., Laotian, Samoan, Cambodian).
Tobacco use is high among both male and female Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. In some Pacific Island jurisdictions, chewing tobacco is commonly mixed with betel nut.
The smoking rate for Asian Americans increases seven-fold from middle school (4.4%) to high school (33.1%), the highest increase for any ethnic group.

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