Smoking and American Indians/Alaska Natives Fact Sheet

Among racial and ethnic groups, the prevalence of current smoking is highest among American Indians/Alaska Natives (32.2%), intermediate among non-Hispanic whites (21.8%) and non-Hispanic blacks (22.6%) and lowest among Hispanics (15.1%) and Asians/Pacific Islanders (10.3%).¹

• American Indian and Alaska Native lands are sovereign nations and are not subject to state taxes or laws prohibiting the sale and promotion of tobacco products to minors. As a result, American Indian and Alaska Native youth have access to cheap tobacco products at a young age. Tobacco is also considered a sacred gift and it is used during religious ceremonies and as traditional medicine.²
  
  
• In 2004, among youths, American Indian/Alaska Natives had the greatest cigarette smoking prevalence (23.1%), followed by non-Hispanic whites (14.9%), Hispanics (9.3%), non-Hispanic blacks (6.5%), and Asians (4.3%).³
  
  
• Tobacco use is a risk factor for heart disease, cancer, and stroke‑‑all leading causes of death among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Chronic cigarette smoking and spit tobacco use increases their risk of developing tobacco-related health problems.⁴
  
  
• Although American Indians have the highest rates of current smoking, they are less likely to be heavy smokers. The percentage of American Indian and Alaska Native smokers who reported that they were light smokers (smoking fewer than 15 cigarettes per day) was 61.5 percent compared to 44.9 percent in whites in 2006.⁵
  
  
• In 2005, American Indian and Alaska Native women had the highest rate of smoking during pregnancy (17.8%) compared to non-Hispanic white (13.9%) and non-Hispanic black (8.5%) women.⁶
  
  
• As smoking declined among the white non-Hispanic population, tobacco companies targeted American Indian/Alaskan Natives by funding cultural events such as powwows and rodeos to build its image and credibility in the community.⁷