Pérez-Stable Addresses Smoking Cessation in Minority Populations
In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, NIMHD director Dr. Eliseo Pérez-Stable spoke on Tobacco Use Behavior and Health Consequences among U.S. Racial/Ethnic Minorities recently in Lipsett Amphitheater.
According to the 2013 National Health Interview Survey, less-educated groups tend to smoke more—those with a GED have the highest smoking rates—and women tend to smoke less than men. For example, 7 percent of Latino women smoke compared with 17.3 percent of Latino men, and 4.8 percent of Asian women smoke compared with 15.1 percent of Asian men.
One study suggests that among Latinos, the association of acculturation and smoking is gender-specific. Latino women who adapt toward English-speaking mainstream society tend to smoke more and pick up other unhealthy behaviors, such as drinking alcohol and eating a poor diet, said Pérez-Stable. Among men, smoking rates decrease and binge drinking behavior decreases with increased acculturation.
Photo: Credit Daniel Soñé
In his research, Pérez-Stable found that compared to whites, Latinos are more likely to want to quit because of smoke’s effects on others, especially loved ones and family members, and smoking’s effects on interpersonal relationships and on their own health. Reasons for quitting include criticism from family, their children’s health, wanting to set a good example and even eliminating bad breath and holes burned in clothes among smokers. Not gaining weight, however, was not a concern for Latinos compared to their white counterparts.
“The United States has come a long way in reducing tobacco use,” said Pérez-Stable. “It’s not fast enough for some people, but it is progress.”
Lung cancer rates in the U.S. have decreased among all population groups and the percentage of minorities who are very light (1 to 5 cigarettes per day) and non-daily smokers has increased. More than 50 percent of Latinos, 44 percent of Asians and 36 percent of African Americans who smoke cigarettes are very light and non-daily smokers, according to one study.
“Smoking patterns have changed and will continue to change,” said Pérez-Stable. “But the patterns don’t fit with how we have dealt with tobacco use in the last 40 years. We treat smoking as an addiction. Cessation strategies are based on an addiction model. Rather than the exception, very light and non-daily has become the predominant type of smoker.”
Because light smokers are less addicted and non-daily smokers are not addicted by definition, pharmaceutical treatment should be modified for these smokers; behavioral interventions directed at light smokers should be adapted for use in self-help, Internet and quit lines, said Pérez-Stable. No clinical trials have been tested or funded for this type of smoker, he added.
He pointed out that tobacco companies have traditionally targeted youth, women and minority populations, especially African Americans, in order to gain greater market share. Menthol cigarettes, heavily marketed to African Americans, may help explain why this group has a more difficult time quitting, even though they make as many attempts to quit and show the same interest in quitting as whites. Menthol appears to increase smoking dependence by cooling the smoke sensation, but more research is needed, said Pérez-Stable.
In addition, nicotine intake (the addictive chemical found in smoke from tobacco products) per cigarette is 30 percent greater in African Americans, which may explain higher rates (50 percent) of lung cancer in this population. This may also be due to other biological factors and greater metabolic differences than other groups, leading to more intake of carcinogens.
Tobacco affects non-smokers, as well. Second-hand smoke is associated with increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among children, cervical cancer and myocardial infarction and exacerbates asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Further, in utero second-hand smoke tobacco exposure can affect development of the respiratory tract and is related to persistent asthma in children and adolescents, more emergency room visits and daily and nighttime symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and cough.
To decrease second-hand smoke exposure, indoor smoking bans are effective and have wide health benefits, said Pérez-Stable. Complete smoking bans in households are more common among Latinos and Asians and less common among African Americans.
While minorities tend to smoke fewer cigarettes and less frequently, this has not translated to more smoking cessation success. In order to increase success, clinicians must be persistent in advising patients; greater access to health care is needed; more minorities must be recruited for clinical trials and research studies; and self-help, culturally appropriate interventions should be promoted.
“Clinicians have to play an essential role and we need greater access to health care,” said Pérez-Stable. “It’s not just policies about indoor smoking. We need all of these approaches. Over time, we will see people successful at quitting.”