Skip to main content
          Skip to FDA Search
          Skip to in this section menu
          Skip to footer links


U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government

					Here’s how you know
          			Dot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.
							      SSL**The site is secure.** The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 
			U.S. Food and Drug Administration
				
        Search
            Menu
							
						Search FDA
									
									Submit search 
		Featured
							Contact FDA
	                FDA Guidance Documents
	                Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts
	                Press Announcements
	                Warning Letters
	                Advisory Committees
	                En Español

					Products
            Food
							Drugs
							Medical Devices
							Radiation-Emitting Products
							Vaccines, Blood, and Biologics
							Animal and Veterinary
							Cosmetics
							Tobacco ProductsTopics
            About FDA
							Combination Products
							Regulatory Information
							Safety
							Emergency Preparedness
							International Programs
							News and Events
							Training and Continuing Education
							Inspections and Compliance
							Science and ResearchInformation For
            Consumers
	            Patients
	            Industry
	            Health Professionals
	            Federal, State and Local Officials 
 In this section:

                Minority Health and Health Equity Resources

Minority Health and Health Equity Resources

                        Alzheimer's Disease
          Asthma
          Clinical Trial Diversity
          Colorectal Cancer
          Diabetes
          Heart Disease
          Hepatitis B
          Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
          Hypertension
          Immunization
          Lupus
          Rural Health
          Sickle Cell Disease
          Stroke
          Commercial Tobacco Use in American Indian and Alaska Native Populations
          Tobacco Use Home
          For Consumers
          Minority Health and Health Equity
          Minority Health and Health Equity Resources
          Commercial Tobacco Use in American Indian and Alaska Native PopulationsMinority Health and Health Equity Resources Commercial Tobacco Use in American Indian and Alaska Native Populations
  
  	
    Subscribe to Email Updates
    Share
    Post
    Linkedin

    Email
    PrintImage
              cigarettesDownload and Print: Fact Sheet    Additional Languages

Many tribes use tobacco in a traditional way for ceremonial or medicinal purposes, such as healing ceremonies and offerings. Traditional tobacco use differs from commercial tobacco use. Commercial tobacco products are addictive and contain thousands of chemicals that harm the body due to regular use.

How common is commercial tobacco use in AI/AN populations?

Since 1978, American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) have had the highest use of commercial tobacco compared to people of other races or ethnicities.

Among AI/AN populations:

1 in 2 young adults aged 18 to 25 years use tobacco
	1 in 5 adults aged 18 and over smoke cigarettes
	1 in 12 adults aged 18 and over use smokeless tobacco
	1 in 6 women smoked during pregnancySmoking prevalence is highest in the Northern Plains region (Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming)

What are the health risk of tobacco use?

The use of commercial tobacco affects nearly every organ in the body and can have serious health effects leading to disability and premature death. Smoking can lead to an increased risk of developing lung cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Health risks also exist among AI/AN women using commercial tobacco products before, during, and after pregnancy. Some of these risks include fertility problems, premature birth, birth defects, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Why should I quit?

Stay healthy by not using commercial tobacco products and be a positive role model for your loved ones, family, and community.

2 weeks after quitting, your breathing improves
	In 1 year, your risk for a heart attack is cut in half
	In 5 years, your risk for a stroke is the same as a person who never smoked
	In 10 years, your risk of lung cancer is reduced by half
	To lower your cholesterol levels
	To lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes
	To lower your risk for gum disease
	To avoid exposing your friends and family to secondhand and thirdhand smokeHow do I quit?

FDA-approved smoking cessation products can help you quit. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to find a treatment that is right for you.

**Over-the-counter nicotine replacement medications** may come in the form of skin patches, gum, lozenges, inhaler, or nasal spray.
	**Prescription products** are available through a prescription from your health care provider. These products may come in the form of pills, inhaler, or nasal spray.Where can I learn more?

The Indian Health Service has information on tobacco prevention at: **www.ihs.gov/forpatients/healthtopics/TobaccoPrevention**.

For resources to help you quit, visit: **www.smokefree.gov**.

To speak with a smoking cessation counselor, call the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at: **1-800-Quit-Now (784-8669)**.

For more information on health equity, visit **www.fda.gov/healthequity**.

Download Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet: Commercial Tobacco Use In American Indian and Alaska Native PopulationsAdditional Languages

We hope that you find these translations useful. While the agency has attempted to obtain translations that are as faithful as possible to the English version, we recognize that the translated versions may not be as precise, clear, or complete as the English version. The official versions of these materials are the English versions.

ᎩᎵᏏ (Cherokee)
	ᎤᏙᎯᏳ ᎪᏪᎳᏅ: ᏗᏃᏣᏢᏍᎩ ᏦᎳ ᎬᏙᏓ ᎾᎿᎢ ᎠᎹᏰᏟ ᎠᏁᎯ ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯ ᎠᎴ ᎠᎴᏍᎧ ᏅᏁᎯᏯ ᎾᏂ (Fact Sheet: Commercial Tobacco Use In American Indian and Alaska Native Populations)ᎾᏍᎩᏃ ᏗᎪᏪᎳᏅᎢ ᎡᎳᏗᏢ ᎨᏒ ᏗᏛᏅᎢᏍᏔᏅ ᎾᎿᎢ ᎢᎸᏍᎩ ᏙᏱᏗᏢ ᏂᏓᏳᎶᏒ ᏗᎦᏬᏂᎯᏍᏗ. FDA ᏓᎵᏍᎪᎸᏗ ᎯᎠᏃ ᏗᏁᏢᏔᏅᎯ ᎯᎢᎾᎢ ᎢᏯᏓᏛᏁᏗ ᎾᎢ ᎠᏯᏖᎾ ᎠᏰᎵ ᏍᏆᏂᏱ ᏚᎾᏙᏢᏒᎢ ᎤᎾᏛᏓᏍᏗ. ᎤᏚᎩ ᎣᎬᎭ ᎾᏍᎩᎾᎢ ᏣᏩᏛᏗ ᎯᎠᏃ ᏗᏁᏢᏔᏅᎯ ᏗᎨᎬᏙᏗ. ᎠᏏᏉ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏗᎦᏘᏯ ᎦᎵ ᎤᏁᎵᏔᏅ ᏧᏁᏍᏗ ᏗᏁᏢᏔᏅᎯ ᎾᏍᎩᎾᎢ ᎯᎾᎢ ᎤᏬᎯᏳᏒ ᎾᏍᎩ ᏱᎬᏩᎵᏍᏙᏗ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎩᎵᏏ ᏄᏓᎴᏒᎢ, ᎣᏦᎵᎩ ᎾᏍᎩᎾᎢ ᎠᏁᏢᏔᏅᎢ ᏂᏚᏓᎴᏒᎢ ᏰᎵᏊ ᏞᏍᏗ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎧᎵ ᏗᏙᎵᎩ, ᎤᎵᎦᎵᏴᏓ, ᎠᎴ ᎠᏍᏆᏛᏃᏅ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎩᎵᏏ ᏄᏓᎴᏒᎢ. ᎾᏍᎩ ᏗᏓᏂᎸᏨᎢ ᏄᏓᎴᏒᎢ ᎯᎠᏃ ᏗᎪᏪᎳᏅᎢ ᎾᏍᎩ ᎩᎵᏏ ᏄᏓᎴᏒᎢ.

Choctaw
	Holisso Ahli: Miliki Hattak Vpi Homma Micha Alaska Oklushi Hakchuma Isht Vtta (Fact Sheet: Commercial Tobacco Use In American Indian and Alaska Native Populations)

Bilagáanaa Bizaad jí (Navajo)
	Naaltsoos Bee Ééhózinii: Nát’oh Nidahaniihíí Bitsį’ Yishtłizhii Dóó Beehai Dine’é Chodayooł‘į́níí (Fact Sheet: Commercial Tobacco Use In American Indian and Alaska Native Populations)Díí naaltsos wóyah gi sinilígíí di kwíí shį́į́h Bíla’ashdla’ii Ałtah Dóóne’é nilį́į go Bizaad ał ąą’á daa t’ée go bee’ áta’ ná háne’ go Ał tah Ádóóne’é  kéyah t’áá’ náá hwís t’áa ńt’éé’ bá‘ ádeil yaa kojí FDA Da’ íníísh dóó. Kót’áó baa hane’ígíí bee’ áta’ ná háne’ go bó hó née dzą́ą́ go hane’ chii díłįł nii dzin t’áá’ daats’í nił ákó t’é. Kódóó Da’íníshígíí t’áá’ áyisíí Bilagáanaa bizaad bee ha’oo dzíí’ gi nízhóní go, k’éz don go, bik’izh doo txįł ígi’ át’áó nát’ą́ą’ bee’ ata’ ná hóóne’ doo nii dzin Ałtah Diné’é’ bizaad łah góó shį́į́ t’áá’ áaní t’áá nani tł‘ah  ał tah Diné’é bizaad bee’ Bilagáanaa bizaad dę́ę́’ bee’ ata’ ná ho jil ne’ go ła’ saad bá’á daa din go da. Bilagáanaa bizaad jí’ áyisíí bó hól níh ílįį́ go bee ha’oo dzíí’jí  dooléł hane’ yíníł ta’ go hazhó’ó bik’i’ di díí txįł.

Kass’atun (Yupik)
	Elitarkat: Alaska-mi Yupiat Ingiqilit-llu Kuingitulit Nallunritarkait (Fact Sheet: Commercial Tobacco Use In American Indian and Alaska Native Populations)Kalikat kanani igaumaut allat yuut ayuqenrilngurnek qaneryaraitgun. FDA-q kalikangqertuq mumigtanek allat nunarpiit qaneryaraitgun. Umyuartequukut mumigtat ikayurnakuyukluci. Pitacirramcetun mumigcillruukut ukunek kalikanek, taugaam pitsaqenritukut mumigtat ilait elluarrluteng igaumanricukluki. Kass’atun igaumalria elluatuqluni igaumauq.

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      11/03/2023
              
              
Health Topic(s)
			  TobaccoMinority Health and Health Equity Resources

          
                        Alzheimer's Disease
          Asthma
          Clinical Trial Diversity
          Colorectal Cancer
          Diabetes
          Heart Disease
          Hepatitis B
          Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
          Hypertension
          Immunization
          Lupus
          Rural Health
          Sickle Cell Disease
          Stroke
          Commercial Tobacco Use in American Indian and Alaska Native Populations
          Tobacco Use
 Subscribe to the FDA Office of Minority Health and Health Equity email updates
                          Get regular FDA email updates delivered on this topic to your inbox.
    Enter your email address to subscribe:
 Footer Links
    FDA Archive
          About FDA
          Accessibility
      Visitor Information
          Website Policies / Privacy
          No FEAR Act
          Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
      FOIA
          HHS.gov
          USA.gov
    Contact FDA
      Follow FDA on Facebook
      Follow FDA on X
      Follow FDA on Instagram
      Follow FDA on LinkedIn
      View FDA videos on YouTube
      Subscribe to FDA RSS feeds
    FDA Homepage
    Contact Number
      1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) Back toTop