CDC study finds racial disparities in smoking rates

Despite a significant decline in cigarette smoking among adults, certain racial and ethnic groups are still smoking at higher rates, according to a new federal study out Thursday (Source: “CDC: Smoking rates still high among certain racial, ethnic groups,” The Hill, Aug. 4, 2016).

Analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that smoking was down among Asians overall from 14.5 percent from 2002 to 2005 to 10.9 percent from 2010 to 2013, but Vietnamese are still smoking at a rate of 16.3 percent and Koreans at a rate of 20 percent. Among Hispanics, current cigarette smoking has dropped from 23.9 percent to 19.9 percent, but 28.5 percent of Puerto Ricans were still smoking between 2010 and 2013. 

“We know smoke-free policies, hard-hitting media campaigns, higher prices for tobacco products, and promotion of cessation treatment in clinical settings are proven to reduce tobacco product use,” Corinne Graffunder, director of CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, said in a statement.  “If fully implemented and enforced, these strategies could help reduce tobacco use, particularly among racial and ethnic populations with higher rates of use.”