Preventing Smoking in Special Populations

While tobacco use has declined in Massachusetts, some groups of people still have high rates of smoking. This means that they also have higher rates of disease, disability, and death due to smoking.

In Massachusetts, the hgihest rates of smoking are found among low socioeconomic groups, young adults (18-24 year olds), people with physical disabilities, and people with mental health and substance abuse problems.

African-American, Latino/Hispanic, and Asian communities have frequently been the targets of tobacco industry marketing, as have youth and young adults, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations.

Recent immigrants and others who are not fluent in English are less likely to have access to health care resources that are culturally and linguistically appropriate - including information about tobacco and help to quit smoking.

Each of these populations has its own needs and requirements. Learning about these needs and how to address them is an important first step to helping reduce the burden of tobacco use in these populations.

Information about populations in Massachusetts with higher smoking rates can be found at www.mass.gov/dph/mtcp.