Tobacco
use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the
United States. Nearly 40 million U.S. adults still smoke cigarettes, and about
4.7 million middle and high school students use at least one tobacco product,
including e-cigarettes. Every day, about 3,000 youth younger than the age of 18
smokes their first cigarette.
American
Indians/Alaska Natives have the highest prevalence of cigarette smoking
compared to all other racial/ethnic groups in the United States. Each year,
nearly half a million Americans die prematurely of smoking or exposure to
secondhand smoke. Another 16 million live with a severe illness caused by
smoking.
Smoking
can lead to disease and disability and harms nearly every organ in the body.
More than 16 million people are living with a disease caused by smoking in the
United States. For every person who dies because of the use of long term
smoking, at least 30 people will live with a serious smoking-related illness.
Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes other emphysema
and chronic bronchitis. Smoking also increases the risk for tuberculosis,
certain eye diseases, and problems of the immune system. Lung
cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among American Indians/Alaska
Natives.
A big
issue today is the electronic cigarettes, sometimes called “e-cigs,” “vapes,”
“e-hookahs,” “vape pens,” and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). Some
e-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some look like USB
flash drives, pens, and other everyday items.
If you
work with young people, you may have seen an e-cigarette device without even
knowing it. The most often sold e-cigarette in the United States is a brand
called JUUL, which looks like a USB flash drive. JUUL “pods,” which
contain liquid heated by the device, have as much nicotine as a pack of 20 cigarettes.
They also come in flavors, which can make them more appealing to young people. In
2018, CDC and FDA data showed that more than 3.6 million U.S. youth, including
1 in 5 high school students and 1 in 20 middle school students, were past-month
e-cigarette users.
As of
October 15, 2019, 1,479* lung injury cases associated with the use of
e-cigarette, or vaping, products have been reported to CDC from 49 states (all
except Alaska), the District of Columbia, and one U.S. territory. Thirty-three
deaths have been confirmed in 24 states. All patients have reported a history
of using e-cigarettes or vaping products. Since the specific
cause or causes of lung injury are not yet known, the only way to assure that
you are not at risk while the investigation continues is to consider refraining
from the use of all e-cigarette or vaping products.
The
statistics should open your eyes to make a stand against tobacco products. As
indigenous people are known to use tobacco as ceremonial and traditional
practices, commercial use should be avoided to keep the health of children and
adults as strong as can be. Commercial tobacco can increase the chances of
losing members from your tribal community to smoking-related illnesses and losing
elders to smoking-related diseases or exposure smoke before they can pass down
tribal customs and traditions.
There are
approximately 2.6 million indigenous people in the United States—about 1% of
the total population. Yet, we have the
highest prevalence of tobacco use compared to other racial/ethnic groups in the
Unites States. As originators of the land around us, it is our responsibility
to upkeep the traditions and care of the land that we are on. The future
generations are what will keep us and our culture and traditions alive, but if
we are to continue to abuse tobacco products and use electronic tobacco
products, we are harming not only ourselves but also the generations to come.
Take
simple steps to protect your children from the harmful effects of smoking and
secondhand smoke. Children respect and learn from elders’ actions and words. Elders
can help protect children from secondhand smoke. You are the keepers of
traditions and lead our communities in decision making. Please lead us to
protect the children from secondhand smoke. Our tribe’s future depends on the
children.