The Social Context of Experimenting with Cigarettes: American Indian “Start Stories”

Abstract

Smoking rates among American Indians are higher than any other racial or ethnic group. Focus groups were conducted with 140 American Indian middle school students who were not living on reservations to explore the social context of smoking initiation. Most teens smoked their first cigarettes with friends, siblings or cousins, usually out of curiosity, or in response to peer encouragement. There was no indication of any link between smoking initiation and use of tobacco in traditional ceremonies. Overall, the social context for these teens was very similar to the social context of other teens in the United States.

Examining smoking and cessation during pregnancy among an Appalachian sample: a preliminary view

“…Further, an impact of the obligation to change smoking behavior on patterns of social activity was consistently reported. The importance of smoking in the social realm has been observed in other settings, and social support is a known aid to quitting [39-42]. The alteration of associated social patterns that accompanies smoking cessation has been reported and usually incurs a sense of loss as was often the case among the women we interviewed [42].…”

The Nature, Scope, and Development of the Global Tobacco Control Epistemic Community

“…From this perspective, because tobacco use encompasses human behavior and the social context within which such behavior is practiced, 65,66 curbing the use and spread of tobacco demands different measures that reinforce each other. While ideas on tobacco control legislation (to prevent youth smoking) began in the 1980s, health warnings on cigarette packages and advertising bans began from the 1960s in developed countries.…”

Adolescents and Tobacco Use: Systematic Review of Qualitative Research Methodologies and Partial Synthesis of Findings

“…Later studies (16,21,42) note that adolescents are adept at locating stores and clerks that will sell tobacco products to underage purchasers. Importantly, Kegler, Cleaver, and Kingsley (2000) note that no American Indian youth in their study spoke of buying their first cigarette. This finding was borne out in many studies.…”

“…Studies, especially DiFranza and Coleman (2001) and Kegler, Cleaver, and Kingsley (2000), detailed a multiplicity of sources and strategies used by adolescents for obtaining cigarettes even in high-enforcement localities. For example, an earlier study (31) reported that ".…”