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Tobacco and Minority Populations

About Tobacco and Minority Populations

Tobacco use disproportionately affects minority populations who have a long and documented history of being targeted by the tobacco industry.

For example:

  • Although African Americans usually smoke fewer cigarettes and start smoking cigarettes at an older age, they are more likely to die from smoking-related diseases.
  • Prevalence of cigarette smoking is higher among Hispanic adults born in the United States than those who were foreign-born.
  • American Indians/Alaska Natives have the highest prevalence of cigarette smoking compared to all other racial/ethnic groups in the United States.
  • In the U.S., people living below the poverty level and people having lower levels of educational attainment have higher rates of cigarette smoking than the general population.

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