How Much Progress Have We Made? Trends in Disparities in Tobacco Use

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Disparities
• Tobacco Control

Background:

• Reducing tobacco-related health disparities is a long-standing public health priority.
• Despite decades of effort, disparities in cigarette use have remained persistent or worsened.
• Limited understanding exists regarding trends in disparities for other tobacco products.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine trends in cigarette and other tobacco product use disparities in Minnesota.
• To inform public health initiatives aimed at reducing tobacco use disparities.
• To analyze tobacco product use across different socioeconomic and racial groups over time.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey data from 2010, 2014, and 2018.
• Examined past 30-day use of cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco.
• Disparities assessed by education, income, and race, including use of combustibles and any tobacco.

Main Results:

• Lower income and education levels were associated with higher use of cigarettes, combustibles, and any tobacco.
• In 2018, Black respondents reported higher cigar and combustible use than White respondents.
• White respondents reported higher smokeless tobacco use in 2014; disparities remained largely unchanged across survey waves.

Conclusions:

• Significant tobacco use disparities persist across education, income, and race in Minnesota.
• Current tobacco control programs have not eliminated these disparities.
• Additional targeted interventions are necessary to achieve endgame tobacco use targets for all populations.