The NLTCN’s goal is to reduce tobacco use disparities and associated premature deaths and disabilities among Hispanic/Latino populations by creating a Network of community based organizations, advocates, and public experts to support evidence-based policies/practices in the areas of comprehensive tobacco policies, prevention, cessation, and exposure to second hand smoke.
The NLTCN’s goal is to reduce tobacco use disparities and associated premature deaths and disabilities among Hispanic/Latino populations by creating a Network of community based organizations, advocates, and public experts to support evidence-based policies/practices in the areas of comprehensive tobacco policies, prevention, cessation, and exposure to second hand smoke.
USMBHA is aware of the short and long term effects of smoking in the health of our border communities. In the US Latino community, 21% of men and 12% of women smoke, though rates have not declined in youth, where 24.9% of Hispanic males in grades 9 through 12 and 19.2% of Hispanic young girls are current cigarette smokers. As we know, 80-90% of current adult smokers became addicted before the age of 18th. Reducing smoking rates in youth is key to lowering lung cancer rates which is the leading cause of cancer in Latino males.
The Mexican people have taken important steps to reduce tobacco use when Mexico City became a smoke free city in 2007. Some Mexican border states are now collecting data on these issue, for example Nuevo Laredo, found that one in 10 students currently use any form of tobacco; 14% currently smoke cigarettes; 4% currently use some other form of tobacco, and exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke |
(ETS) is high—4 in 10 students live in homes where others smoke and half of the students are exposed to smoke outside of the home; two fifths of the students have a parent who smokes, and 15% have friends who smoke. Policies that reduce ETS can protect children from the harmful effects of smoking and can help smokers quit.
The USMBHA will be working nationally, but will concentrate its efforts in US/Mexico states on both sides of the border. USMBHA will work with the Alliance of Border Coalitions representing over 40 border coalitions addressing the issues of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs. USMBHA will also work with the 14 Binational Health Councils (BHC). Promising and best practices on comprehensive tobacco control programs and policies will be shared with BHC and coalition members and they will be trained and encouraged to address tobacco control issues.
The USMBHA looks forward to working with the Governors, Mayors and other elected and appointed officials to protect the lives of our Hispanic/Latino children and adolescents by reducing ETS exposure and by promoting comprehensive policies and programs that will reduce tobacco use and cigarette smoking in our border communities.
In the U.S. the USMBHA urges all of our partners to join us in this fight to reduce the burden of smoking related diseases in our families and our communities.
Please feel free to contact Susie Villalobos or Dora Basurto at villalos@usmbha.org or basurtod@usmbha.org for more information |
El Paso, TX 79912