How 2nd Hand Smoke Disproportionately Impacts the Latino Community

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How 2nd Hand Smoke Disproportionately Impacts the
Latino Community

• National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco
  Prevention (LCAT)
• Katherine Culliton,Esq.
• Policy Director

Photo by Sarah L. Voisin The Washington Post
Photos compiled
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• Established in 1989, LCAT is the only national
  organization dedicated to combating the negative
  impact of alcohol and tobacco in the Latino
  community.

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LCATs work

• Advocacy
• Public Education
• National Networks
• Promotoras
• Work in Spanish
• Community level
• Hear about help resolve discrimination

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Latinos in the United States

• According to the National Census, Hispanics
  represented more than 49 of population growth
  2000-2004
• The Latino population is more than 41.3 million,
  signifying the largest minority in the U.S.

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• The Latino population is the youngest, with a
  median age of 14 years less than non-Hispanics.
• The Census also indicates that the Latino
  population is growing at a rapid rate, especially
  among the youth and recent immigrants. This
  means it will continue to be very young.

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• The Latino community is subject to various forms
  of discrimination
• Being harassed about immigration status
• Highest rates of OTJ injuries (AP)
• Lowest access to insurance
• Highest dropout/pushout rate
• Failure to provide language access
• Aggressive targeted marketing
• Severe disparate impact on access to health, data
  collection other Title VI issues

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Second Hand Smoke

• Latinos smoking rates are a bit less than other
  groups, and Latinos favor clean air policies.
• However, the great majority of restaurant, bar,
  hotel other service workers are Latinos, whose
  labor rights are less respected.
• Therefore, 2nd hand smoke has a disparate impact
  on the Latino community.
• We hope the Surgeon Generals report addresses
  this issue of discriminatory impact.
• LCAT our networks can use the SG report as an
  advocacy tool.

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What can we do to protect Latino community
health?

• Listen to communities of color hear them well
  about discrimination.
• Provide culturally competent community health
  services, also with language access.
• Create Latino-centered policy/programs.
• Build Latino networks coalitions.
• Raise awareness of our civil rights issues.

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Community Activism

• Build on many positive aspects of Latino culture.
• Activism may be therapeutic.
• Great opportunity to support the emerging Latino
  civil rights movement.

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Muchísimas Gracias!
Katherine Culliton LCAT [phone] kculliton_at_n
lcatp.org www.nlcatp.org