Prevalence and Disparities in Tobacco Product Use Among American Indians/Alaska Natives - United States, 2010-2015

Abstract

An overarching goal of Healthy People 2020 is to achieve health equity, eliminate disparities, and improve health among all groups.* Although significant progress has been made in reducing overall commercial tobacco product use,^† disparities persist, with American Indians or Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) having one of the highest prevalences of cigarette smoking among all racial/ethnic groups (1,2). Variations in cigarette smoking among AI/ANs have been documented by sex and geographic location (3), but not by other sociodemographic characteristics. Furthermore, few data exist on use of tobacco products other than cigarettes among AI/ANs (4). CDC analyzed self-reported current (past 30-day) use of five tobacco product types among AI/AN adults from the 2010-2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH); results were compared with six other racial/ethnic groups (Hispanic; non-Hispanic white [white]; non-Hispanic black [black]; non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander [NHOPI]; non-Hispanic Asian [Asian]; and non-Hispanic multirace [multirace]). Prevalence of current tobacco product use was significantly higher among AI/ANs than among non-AI/ANs combined for any tobacco product, cigarettes, roll-your-own tobacco, pipes, and smokeless tobacco. Among AI/ANs, prevalence of current use of any tobacco product was higher among males, persons aged 18-25 years, those with less than a high school diploma, those with annual family income <$20,000, those who lived below the federal poverty level, and those who were never married. Addressing the social determinants of health and providing evidence-based, population-level, and culturally appropriate tobacco control interventions could help reduce tobacco product use and eliminate disparities in tobacco product use among AI/ANs (1).

FIGURE

Prevalence of tobacco product use by race/ethnicity — National Survey of Drug Use and Health, United States, 2010–2015 Abbreviations: AI/AN = American Indian or Alaska Native; NHOPI = Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. * Persons who reported current (past 30-day) use of at least one of the five tobacco product types (cigarettes, cigars, roll-your-own tobacco, pipe, and smokeless tobacco) were considered to be current users of any tobacco product. Cigars include big cigars, cigarillos, and little cigars. Smokeless tobacco includes snuff, dip, chewing, and snus. ^† AI/AN population comprised persons who identified AI/AN as their only race/ethnicity. Unless otherwise specified, all racial/ethnic groups are non-Hispanic.