New report shows disproportionate tobacco and nicotine use

Several demographic groups disproportionality use tobacco, according to a recently released report from Public Health Madison-Dane County.

“While the reported overall decreases in tobacco use seem like very good news, a deeper look reveals that smoking and tobacco use rates among several groups remain much higher,” Tobacco Free Columbia Dane County Coalition Coordinator Ryan Sheahan said in a Monday press release. “As a result these groups have much higher rates of smoking-related diseases.”

Data from the report, titled “Tobacco and Nicotine Free Living,” show 28 percent of the lesbian, gay and bisexual population, 30 percent of the Native American population and 32 percent of the African American population smokes. All of those groups have higher percentages of smokers than the Wisconsin adult average of 17 percent.

The data also show 13 percent of Dane County adults are smokers, while 5.5 percent of county high schoolers and 2 percent of middle schoolers smoke. In comparison, the Wisconsin high school and middle school smoking rates were reported at 10.7 and 1.6 percent, respectively.

“Our data clearly shows we can’t focus on tobacco prevention activities with a one size fits all approach. We need to continue to adapt our approach and work within communities to tailor strategies to help people quit and tackle the root causes of why people start smoking in the first place,” Sheahan said.

The report was made up of 25 different studies, reports and academic papers. It is a part of a national effort to reduce the national average of smoking to 17 percent.