ObjectiveDescribe the extent to which tobacco industry marketing tactics incorporated American Indian culture and traditional tobacco.MethodsA keyword search of industry documents was conducted using document archives from the Truth Tobacco Documents Library. Tobacco industry documents (n=76) were analysed for themes.ResultsTobacco industry marketing tactics have incorporated American Indian culture and traditional tobacco since at least the 1930s, with these tactics prominently highlighted during the 1990s with Natural American Spirit cigarettes. Documents revealed the use of American Indian imagery such as traditional headdresses and other cultural symbols in product branding and the portrayal of harmful stereotypes of Native people in advertising. The historical and cultural significance of traditional tobacco was used to validate commercially available tobacco.ConclusionsThe tobacco industry has misappropriated culture and traditional tobacco by misrepresenting American Indian traditions, values and beliefs to market and sell their products for profit. Findings underscore the need for ongoing monitoring of tobacco industry marketing tactics directed at exploiting Native culture and counter-marketing tactics that raise awareness about the distinction between commercial and traditional tobacco use. Such efforts should be embedded within a culturally sensitive framework to reduce the burden of commercial tobacco use.
Our results suggest farm parents and other rural stakeholders need to be better educated and encouraged to follow the NAGCAT guidelines, and that multilevel interventions need to be developed to ensure protection of children from agricultural injury and death.
What is already known on this topic? Recent evidence has shown that disparities in cigarette use across demographic groups remain unchanged or have worsened. What is added by this report? Our study replicates these findings for cigarettes and reveals a similar pattern for other tobacco products whereby disparities in use of e-cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco have not changed in the past 8 years, even in a state with comprehensive smoke-free laws and high tobacco taxes. What are the implications for public health practice? Tobacco control professionals and policy makers must prioritize equity with any proposed strategies or policies to reduce persistent disparities and achieve tobacco-free societies.
Introduction Local governments are pursuing policies to limit the availability of menthol cigarettes at the point-of-sale. Although African Americans are disproportionately impacted by menthol cigarettes, little is known about African American smokers’ perspectives on emerging menthol policy. The purpose of this study was to fill a gap in the literature by exploring African American adult (25+) smoker perspectives on menthol and a local menthol sales restriction. Methods In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with African American smokers (n=27) in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area June – September 2017. Interviews explored smoking behaviors, harm perceptions, perspectives of menthol in the community and reactions to local menthol sales restrictions. The framework method guided identification of key themes and synthesis of findings. Results Almost all (96%) participants smoked Newport cigarettes. The majority of participants indicated that menthol cigarettes were more harmful than non-menthol cigarettes, citing strength and additives, and because they were targeted to African Americans. Some participants were receptive to policy change while others viewed the policy as inconvenient and unfair. Overall, there was a lack of understanding about the policy’s intended public health impact. Some participants indicated that the policy would have no impact on their purchasing or smoking behaviors while others who were contemplating quitting noted that a menthol restriction was encouragement to prompt a quit attempt. Conclusions Sales restrictions can provide a unique opportunity to persuade menthol smokers to quit. Efforts are needed to increase awareness and support of these policies as well as to support African American menthol smokers achieve cessation. IMPLICATIONS There is growing momentum to restrict local menthol tobacco sales; however, little is known about perceptions among populations most impacted, In Minneapolis-St. Paul, where menthol restrictions were passed in 2017, African American smokers expressed limited awareness and uneven policy support, While some participants were unconvinced the restriction would impact smoking, others indicated it would encourage decreased consumption and prompt quit attempts, There is a need for public education to increase awareness of menthol’s harms, to help menthol smokers quit, and to increase support for menthol policies.
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