Characteristics of American Indian light smokers

Abstract

Introduction American Indians (AI) have the highest smoking rates of any racial/ethnic group in the U.S. and have more difficulty quitting smoking. Little is known about the smoking characteristics of AI smokers. The present study compared the demographic and smoking characteristics of light (≤10 cigarettes per day; N = 206) and moderate/heavy (11+ cigarettes per day; N = 86) AI smokers participating in a cross-sectional survey about smoking and health. Methods Multiple methods were used to recruit participants in attendance at powwows, health and career fairs, and conferences. A total of 998 AI (76% cooperation rate) completed a survey assessing general health, sociodemographics, traditional and commercial tobacco use, knowledge and attitudes related to cancer, source of health information and care and other health-related behaviors. Results AI light smokers were younger and less likely to be married or living with a partner compared to moderate/heavy smokers. AI light smokers were less dependent on smoking and more likely to have home smoking restrictions. There were no differences with respect to number of quit attempts in the past year or the average length of their most recent quit attempt by light vs. moderate/heavy smoking. In addition, a similar proportion of light and heavy smokers reported using tobacco for traditional purposes such as ceremonial, spiritual and prayer. Conclusions These findings highlight important differences between AI light and heavier smokers. Differences related to smoking characteristics such as level of dependence and home smoking restrictions have important implications for the treatment of AI smokers.

Cancer statistics forAmericanIndian andAlaskaNative individuals, 2022: Including increasing disparities in early onset colorectal cancer

“…One quarter of AIAN adults were current smokers in 2019, which was higher than in any other major racial/ethnic group 68 and 1.5 times higher than the prevalence in White adults (Table 6). However, tobacco use is different among American Indian groups compared with White individuals, with generally lower cigarette consumption per day among smokers 139,140 but higher levels of second‐hand smoke exposure among nonsmokers 140 . Tobacco use data for the AIAN population must also be interpreted with caution because of the contribution of low‐level exposure to traditional tobacco for medicinal and ceremonial purposes among some tribes 117,141 .…”

Social determinants of incidence, outcomes, and interventions of cardiovascular disease risk factors in American Indians and Alaska Natives

“…However, commercial cigarettes are often substituted for homegrown tobacco at ceremonies making this distinction impossible (Unger et al, 2006). Despite this cultural use of tobacco, from a health perspective, the use of tobacco in traditional ways is irrelevant to commercial/recreational tobacco use because use of tobacco for traditional purposes is the same in light versus heavy smokers (Nazir et al, 2014). Traditional use of tobacco may be advantageous as this use is correlated to greater cessation in AIAN smokers (Daley et al, 2011).…”

Genetics of Smoking Behaviors in American Indians

“…The topography of smoking among American Indians is known to differ from those of other racial and ethnic groups (4,(10)(11)(12)(13). For example, relative to non-Hispanic whites (NHW), American Indian smokers consume fewer cigarettes per day (14,15), and many exhibit sporadic smoking patterns characterized by multiple unsuccessful cessation attempts, despite acute interest in quitting (16,17). In addition, the age of smoking initiation has declined in recent American Indian birth cohorts (18).…”