AFRICAN AMERICANS AND TOBACCO

Fact Sheet (September, 1998)

The tobacco industry has targeted specific racial and ethnic populations in its advertising and promotion. African Americans suffer disproportionately from chronic and preventable disease compared to white Americans. Of the three leading causes of death in African Americans--heart disease, cancer, and stroke--smoking and other tobacco use are major contributors to these illnesses.

• In 1995, about 5.7 million African American adults smoked cigarettes, accounting for approximately 12% of the 47 million adult smokers in the United States.

• The prevalence of current smoking among African Americans is 25.8 percent, compared with 25.6 percent for whites.

• Cigarette smoking is more common among African American males than white males (28.8 percent vs. 27.1 percent). Although African Americans smoke fewer cigarettes, on average, they tend to smoke brands with higher nicotine and tar levels. African Americans are also more likely to smoke mentholated cigarettes.

• An estimated 45,000 African Americans die from smoking-related diseases yearly.

• African Americans have higher lung cancer incidence and mortality rates than whites.

• African Americans tend to start smoking at a later age, are more likely to attempt to quit smoking, and less likely to succeed in quitting than their white counterparts.

• If current patterns continue, an estimated 1.6 million African Americans who are now under the age of 18 will become regular smokers. About 500,000 of those smokers will die of a smoking-related disease.

• As smoking has declined among the white non-Hispanic population, tobacco companies have targeted both African Americans and Hispanics with intensive merchandising, which includes billboards, advertising in media oriented to these communities, and sponsorship of civic groups and athletic, cultural, and entertainment events.

• Among African Americans, as with other U.S. populations, the prevalence of smoking declines as education level increases. Smoking rates were higher among African Americans who had less than a high school education (34.8 percent) compared with those with a college education (16.7 percent).

• The rate of cigarette smoking increased by 80 percent among African American high school students from 1991 to 1997, climbing from 12.6 percent to 22.7 percent. The most dramatic increase occurred among African American males, whose cigarette smoking prevalence doubled from 14.1 percent in 1991 to 28.2 percent in 1997.

• Of current African American adult smokers, more than 70 percent say that they want to quit smoking completely. African American smokers are more likely than white smokers to have quit for at least one day during the previous year (48.7 percent vs 40.3 percent). African Americans, however, are much less likely than whites to remain smoke-free for one month or more (7.9 percent vs. 14 percent).

For more information call the American Lung Association at 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872), or visit our web site at http://www.lungusa.org.

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