Page 20 - April 16 2017 Issue For Web.pmd

PAGE 16 • THE FIL-AM COURIER • APRIL 16-30, 2017

By MARIBELL PABALAN

In the United States,
cigarette smoking remains the April is Minority Health Awareness
leading preventable cause of
death, but surprisingly, it is a and Disparities Month
health issue that continues to
affect ethnic minorities at a
disproportionate rate, A Focus on Smoking Habits of
including Filipinos.
Whether we look at
smoking habits of Filipinos in Hawaii’s Filipinos
Hawai‘i, on the mainland, or
in the Philippines, it is clear
that the impact of tobacco use
among Filipinos has broad
cultural reaches.
The first layer of
examination begins in the
Philippines, where more than
17 million kababayan smoke traffic, enabling a habit that is In Hawai‘i, the smoking percent among Filipino adult achieve health equity is to
cigarettes daily, with males much easier to adopt than it prevalence ranks 8th lowest females. empower Filipino residents
accounting for almost half of is to say no. in the country at 14.1 Further demonstrating with the resources and
the smoking population along Unfortunately, the health percent. Despite this tobacco’s influence, the knowledge they need to quit
with 2.8 million adult females. effects of tobacco have no progress, there is a stark Hawai‘i Department of Health smoking, or to prevent
While it is true that geographical boundaries, disparity within the Filipino (DOH) reports that in Hawai‘i’s tobacco use all together.
smoking rates are decreasing which continues to have community in Hawai‘i - the public high schools, Filipino One such resource is the
globally, cigarettes (priced as negative consequences as smoking prevalence among girls, as well as Filipino boys, Hawai‘i Tobacco Quitline, a
little as one peso) are Pinoys emigrate to different Filipino adult males is almost smoke at a rate of 6.8 service offered by the DOH
conveniently accessible at areas of the world, including three times higher at 18.3 percent. providing FREE phone-based
mom and pop sari-sari stores Hawai‘i. percent compared to 6.7 or web-based coaching for all
and through street vendors in Quit Smoking Resources Hawai‘i residents.
During Minority Health Current smokers who are
Awareness and Disparities interested in quitting are
Month this April, we aim to encouraged to call 1-800-
raise awareness about health QUIT-NOW, or visit
inequalities among minority HawaiiQuitline.org to enroll in
communities, but it is equally an online coaching program
important to raise awareness and learn about community
about the resources that will quit-smoking programs.
help contribute to healthier In addition, MedQuest
outcomes for our state. subscribers can get up to four
According to a 2012 study weeks of FREE nicotine
published in the Journal replacement therapy, such as
Community of Health, gum, patches, or lozenges.
Filipinos in Hawai‘i reported Community quit smoking
lesser knowledge of tobacco programs are available for
cessation methods and those wanting an in-person
products, and less frequent individual or group counseling
usage of them than other setting for their quitting.
ethnic groups. By this it is Check with the program to
clear that when it comes to find out if they offer free or
smoking, the first step to subsidized nicotine
helping this community replacement therapies.