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Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders and Tobacco Use

Tobacco is the single most preventable cause of death for AA and NHPIs.  Although national tobacco use data often indicates AA and NHPIs have the lowest smoking prevalence among all ethnic groups in the U.S., local studies have shown there are high rates in certain AA and NHPI 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 AA and NHPIs and by doing so disguises the true impact of tobacco in the community.

  • Tobacco companies aggressively market their products to AA and NHPI communities both in the U.S. and overseas.1
  • Tobacco is the number one preventable cause of death for all groups, including AA and NHPIs.2
  • Smoking prevalence is highest in the U.S among males in certain AA and NHPI ethnic groups (e.g., Laotian, Samoan, Cambodian).3
  • 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.4
  • 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.5

 

References:
1. Muggli, M. E., Pollay R. W., Lew, R., and Joseph, A. M. (2002). Targeting of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders by the tobacco industry: results from the Minnesota Tobacco Document Depository. Tobacco Control, 11: 201-209.
2. Lew, R. & Tanjasiri, S. P. (2003). Slowing the epidemic of tobacco use among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.Am J Public Health, 93(5): 764–768.
3.  Office of Minority and Multicultural Health. (2000). The health of minorities in New Jersey, Part III. Trenton, NJ: Office of Minority and Multicultural Health, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.
4. Lew, R. & Tanjasiri, S. P. (2003). Slowing the epidemic of tobacco use among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Am J Public Health, 93(5): 764–768.
5. National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse, 2005; American Legacy Foundation. National Youth Tobacco Survey. Washington, DC, 2000.

 

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