Addressing Black Community Lung Health Beyond Black History Month
Lung health disparities persist among Black Americans, especially in lung cancer and menthol cigarette use. Menthol cigarettes remain a key vector for tobacco-related death and disease in Black communities, with more than 80% of Black Americans who smoke using them. Addressing tobacco use in Black communities is important because 73% of Black individuals who smoke want to quit smoking; yet are typically less successful than other populations in their quit attempts in part due to lower utilization of cessation treatments such as counseling and medication. In anticipation of the Food and Drug Administration’s expected proposal to remove menthol cigarettes from the marketplace, the American Lung Association is actively working to address these disparities and the systemic issues that perpetuate them. 

Led by the American Lung Association's Health Promotions team, the recently created toolkit addresses tobacco use in black communities. It features a variety of culturally competent resources, trainings, videos, and other relevant materials focused on three key objectives: building competence, encouraging connectedness and the confidence to act.
 
We encourage you to download the Addressing Tobacco Use in Black Communities' toolkit and explore its resources at Lung.org/FFS. You may also locate more information on the Regional PA Tobacco-Free Coalitions disparate populations' page.