The United States of America is a rich blend of cultures. This diversity demands close attention from the agencies and individuals responsible for protecting the public's health. For too long in tobacco control, attention to diversity has been less consistent than is necessary for planning and developing effective health programs. As a result, we sometimes lack sufficient information on which to base tobacco control interventions. With this report, we begin to address such problems and point the way to filling these gaps in knowledge.
Tobacco use causes devastating disease and premature death in every population in the United States.
This report describes the complex factors that play a part in the growing epidemic of diseases caused by tobacco use in these four groups. Together these groups constitute about 25 percent of the U.S. population, and that proportion is growing rapidly. Public health programs must effectively address the health needs of this significant proportion of people. Such action is of paramount importance to reducing tobacco use in the United States and meeting national health objectives for the year 2000. We hope that this report will provide the basis for renewing our commitment to develop more effective tobacco control programs and policies for people of every racial and ethnic background.