CDC analyzes adult smoking disparities

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report covers health disparities in adult cigarette smoking.

From the period 2002–2005 to the period 2010–2013, declines in cigarette smoking occurred among some racial/ethnic populations. Moreover, the relative change in smoking even among groups that did experience a decline varied across racial/ethnic populations. Substantial disparities in adult cigarette smoking prevalence exist among and within Asian and Hispanic subgroups, with Koreans and Puerto Ricans reporting the highest cigarette smoking prevalences within their respective racial/ethnic population. These findings indicate disproportionately higher smoking prevalence among men compared with women within most racial/ethnic groups.

Disparities in smoking prevalence exist among racial/ethnic populations, and several racial/ethnic populations have disproportionately higher prevalences of smoking and wide within-group variations. Proven interventions, including increasing the price of tobacco products coupled with evidence-based cessation services, comprehensive smoke-free policies, media campaigns, and promotion of cessation treatment in clinical settings, are effective strategies in reducing the overall prevalence of tobacco use and tobacco-related disease and death.

To learn more, go to CDC MMWR.