Health Risks Overview Smoking Secondhand Smoke Disparities in Risk

Smoking - Disparities in Risk

Smoking and the heavy burden of smoking-related deaths and diseases are not distributed equally.  Smoking occurs at much higher rates among specific communities and populations such as Native Americans and Alaska Natives and the U.S. Military.  Even though African Americans smoke at about the same amount as white Americans they face an increased risk of getting lung cancer.  

Smoking also occurs much more frequently among persons of lower income and lower education.  Tragically, persons on Medicaid, the government program for lower income persons in the U.S., smoke at rates 60 percent higher than the general U.S. population, ages 18-65.

You can find out more information from the American Lung Association on which populations are particularly affected by smoking by clicking here.  You can also get help to quit smoking from the Lung Association by clicking here.