

Reducing Tobacco-Related Health Disparities

Tobacco-related health disparities still exist for communities of color (African Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs), Hispanic/Latinos and Native Americans) and other populations targeted by the Tobacco Industry, including low socioeconomic status and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) communities. For example, African Americans have the highest lung cancer incidence and mortality rates of the four major ethnic population groups. American Indians and specific AAPI subgroups have some of the highest prevalence of smoking, and Hispanic/ Latinos are the least protected group in terms of secondhand smoke in the workplace. Some of these disparities are related to tobacco industry targeting. There are also historic inequities in resource allocation, capacity building and program infrastructures, and representation and involvement in policy and decisionmaking processes. The Tobacco Prevention Project and Coalition are committed to working with community partners to address these disparities.