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. 2014 Jan;39(1):358-61.
doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.10.012. Epub 2013 Oct 11.

Characteristics of American Indian light smokers

Niaman Nazir  1 , Bambi Bevil, Christina M Pacheco, Babalola Faseru, Charlotte McCloskey, K Allen Greiner, Won S Choi, Christine Makosky Daley
Affiliations

Characteristics of American Indian light smokers

Niaman Nazir et al. Addict Behav. 2014 Jan.

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.

Keywords: American Indians; Smoking.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Smoking relapse curve for American Indian current smokers most recent quit attempt.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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