by Karen Heslop
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five Black American adults smoke cigarettes and another one in 10 Black teenagers smoke. Given how many illnesses are connected with smoking, it makes sense that a lot of them would want to quit. So why doesn’t it happen?
Why Black People Have Trouble Quitting
Interestingly, research shows that about 73 percent of Black people express an interest in quitting and another 63 percent try to step away from cigarettes within the past year. Despite these high numbers, though, less than five percent of those who want to stop smoking were successful.
One issue that the experts have identified may be the type of cigarettes that many Black Americans smoke. Almost 90 percent of Black people who smoke use menthol cigarettes and statistics show that people who smoke these cigarettes have a lower rate of quitting than those who don’t.
Furthermore, almost 45 percent of Black people who smoke menthol cigarettes state that they’re more likely to try quitting if that kind of cigarette is no longer available. Health experts have suggested that people generally hold menthol cigarette smoke in their lungs longer and this increases their nicotine dependence.
Another issue that can affect the likelihood of success is access to support. While everyone’s journey to quitting is different, some people need the help of support groups, behavioral counseling, and medication. Unfortunately, only about 56 percent of Black Americans who wanted to quit smoking received any kind of clinical advice.
Additionally, if you don’t have health insurance, you’re 65 percent less likely to receive any advice about quitting cigarettes. The numbers are even lower when it comes to medication and counseling. Less than 30 percent of Black people who tried to quit smoking had access to these resources.
Why Black People Need To Quit
While Black people usually start smoking at an older age than other ethnicities and smoke fewer cigarettes on average, they are more likely to die from smoking-related illnesses. For example, Black men have a higher-than-average rate of developing lung and bronchus cancer. They are also more likely to die from these illnesses.
Smoking is also known to increase your risk of being diagnosed with varying types of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, a compromised immune system, lung diseases, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). As a Black person, you already have higher rates of developing and dying from all these health issues. If you stop smoking, you can reduce your risk significantly.
Ideally, you should discuss your options for quitting with your doctor. They can prescribe helpful medication and refer you to counselors who can offer guidance.
However, if that’s not yielding the results you need, there are online groups that offer free resources and guidance. Some of these groups can direct you to community centers or clinics that have in-person counseling, quitting guides, a support structure, and access to medications.
Your pharmacist is also an important resource. They can advise you on affordable over-the-counter medication that can help you quit. If you have insurance, some smoking cessation programs are covered but pharmacists may also have information about how you can get access to these medications for free through the manufacturer.
Doctors also note that counseling may be more effective if Black people speak with their peers so it’s good to search for resources that are specifically designed for Black Americans.
Though statistics show that many Black Americans try to quit smoking every year, they often aren’t successful because they don’t get the support they need. Without this support, they are at risk of developing conditions that disproportionately affect Black people. If you’re having trouble with leaving cigarettes behind, you must find the right resources and support groups that will help you to quit.
