Perceptions of ceremonial and nonceremonial uses of tobacco by American-Indian adolescents in California |
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| Institution: | 1. National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Bethesda, MD 20892, United States of America;2. Central Arkansas Veterans HealthCare System, Little Rock, AR 72211, United States of America;1. Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada;2. School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada;3. Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada;4. Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, London, ON, Canada;5. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada;6. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada;7. US Department of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA;8. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA;9. Division of Intramural Research, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Bethesda, MD, USA;10. Center for Tobacco Products, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA;11. Department of Health Behavior, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA;12. Westat, Rockville, MD, USA;13. Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada;14. Ontario Tobacco Research Unit, Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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| Abstract: | BackgroundAmerican-Indian adolescents have the highest tobacco use prevalence of all ethnic groups in the United States. Although much has been written about the role of tobacco in traditional Native-American cultures, little is known about modern-day perceptions of tobacco among American-Indian adolescents.MethodsThis study conducted focus groups of 40 American-Indian adolescents in urban and rural areas of Southern California. Participants discussed the role of traditional ceremonial tobacco use in their lives, the use of commercial tobacco as a substitute for sacred tobacco, the perceived safety of traditional versus commercial tobacco, and the perceptions of American-Indian imagery in tobacco advertising.ResultsMany American-Indian adolescents may be introduced to traditional tobacco use at early ages. Smoking is viewed as a sign of respect for the elders, but there are acceptable ways for adolescents to participate in ceremonies without inhaling smoke. Commercial cigarettes often are substituted for homegrown tobacco at ceremonies and events. Traditional tobacco was perceived as less dangerous than commercial tobacco because it does not contain chemical additives. However, respondents still perceived that smoking traditional tobacco and breathing tobacco smoke conferred health hazards. Participants found the use of American-Indian imagery in tobacco advertising offensive and stereotypical. Indian casinos were mentioned frequently as places where smoking occurred.ConclusionsContinued health education efforts are needed to decrease habitual use of commercial tobacco products and secondhand smoke exposure among American-Indian youth. Further research is needed to identify ways for American-Indian youth to participate in their cultural traditions while minimizing their risk for tobacco-related diseases. |
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