Native Americans and Tobacco in Washington

Summary

Native Americans make up nearly 2 percent of the Washington population, and are located throughout the state as well as in tribal communities. Current smoking among Native Americans was about 33 percent in 2005.  This is significantly higher than the state rate of about 17.8 percent in 2005.  Among Native American adults, smokeless tobacco prevalence (8.7%) is significantly higher than the state as a whole (3%). Youth smoking among Native Americans in 2004 was significantly higher than the general state population for almost all grade groups, and for both boys and girls separately.  Cigarette smoking among 10th grade Native American youth in 2004 was significantly higher than the non-Hispanic white population and for both boys and girls separately.  Rates of smokeless tobacco use were similar compared to non-Hispanic whites.  The percentage of women smoking during pregnancy is significantly higher (19.9%) than the state average (10.2%), and has been consistently so for the past several years.

Native Americans appear to be at greater risk for lung cancer, which is strongly associated with smoking.  Native Americans appear to have a higher incidence of lung and bronchus cancer (82.6 per 1000,000 population in 2001-2003 combined) and a higher rate of trachea, lung and bronchus cancer mortality (64.3 per 100,000 in 2001-2003 combined) than Washington State as a whole.*  However, these estimates were not statistically significant. For 2001-2003 combined among the general population, the incidence of lung and bronchus cancer was 69.6 per 100,000 and the rate for trachea, lung and bronchus cancer mortality was 55.2 per 100,000. Due to possible under-reporting of Native American race in cancer registries and death certificates, the data to describe Native American incidence and mortality for lung and bronchus cancer may not be reliable. Steps are continually being taken to improve the quality of these data.

Although small in population size, the consistently high rates of tobacco use for Native Americans in all age and gender groups result in comparatively large proportions of individuals being affected by tobacco use. Recognizing this important health disparity, the state Tobacco Prevention and Control program has targeted funding to reach Native American people since the launch of the state program in 2000. There are 29 federally recognized Native American tribes in Washington, and 26 of them were contracted to conduct tobacco prevention and control activities in the 2006 fiscal year.

* Rate per 100,000 age-adjusted to U.S. population.

Challenges

The comparatively small number of Native American respondents included in state surveys limits the precision of estimates to describe their tobacco use.

Source: Census 2000, 2005 BRFSS, 2004 Healthy Youth Survey (HYS), Washington State Birth Certificate
data (2004), Washington State Death records (2001-2003), and the Washington State Cancer Registry
(WSCR, 2001-2003)

Future directions

The state Tobacco Prevention and Control Program (TPCP) is contracting with the Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB) to coordinate statewide activities within these communities.  SIHB has hired a person to recruit and coordinate a community advisory board to plan, implement and evaluate activities in Urban Indian communities. SIHB and its advisory board are created a strategic plan for their community and are seeking ways to partner with TPCP county, Educational Service District and other cross cultural contractors to reduce tobacco use in this community across the state.

Mailing Address:
PO BOX 47848
Olympia WA 98504-7848

Fax: (360) 236-3646

Last Update : 12/18/2006 11:07 AM
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