Type of Presentation

Poster Session

Start Date

4-12-2019 12:30 PM

End Date

4-12-2019 1:30 PM

Abstract

Introduction: Tobacco use is the most common preventable cause of death and it increases one’s risk for numerous diseases, associated illness, and death. Unfortunately, certain populations are disproportionality burdened by tobacco-related morbidity and death. These populations consist of individuals from low-income areas, people with mental illnesses, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals, African-Americans, and Hispanics/Latinos.

Methods: Articles were retrieved using Google Scholar, University of Illinois at Chicago Library (UIC) search engine, and PubMed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website was used as source to find information about certain demographics. Articles were chosen if they were published between the years of 2008-2018. Articles were searched using the terms “tobacco,”, “marketing”, “vulnerable populations”, “low-income”, “mental illnesses”, “LGBT” and “minorities”. Overall, a total of 12 articles and one weblink from the CDC was used.

Findings: African-Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and individuals from low-income communities are exposed more to tobacco products and marketing. Findings showed that transgender adults use tobacco a much higher rates than cisgender adults, menthol cigarettes were originally marketed as being healthier than non-menthol cigarettes, mental health and addiction treatment providers have rationalized that their failure to treat tobacco dependence is a form of harm reduction in that it is viewed as a healthier alternative, and the tobacco industry targeted low SES women as early as the 1970s.

Conclusion: Tobacco companies have been targeting these vulnerable populations for years. There still needs to be more research done on “healthier” alternatives to smoking cigarettes.

Identify Grant

Student Life Travel Grant

Faculty / Staff Sponsor

Lisa-Aponte-Soto, PhD, MHA

Presentation File

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Included in

Public Health Commons

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Apr 12th, 12:30 PM Apr 12th, 1:30 PM

Systematic Review on Tobacco Marketing in Vulnerable Populations

Introduction: Tobacco use is the most common preventable cause of death and it increases one’s risk for numerous diseases, associated illness, and death. Unfortunately, certain populations are disproportionality burdened by tobacco-related morbidity and death. These populations consist of individuals from low-income areas, people with mental illnesses, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals, African-Americans, and Hispanics/Latinos.

Methods: Articles were retrieved using Google Scholar, University of Illinois at Chicago Library (UIC) search engine, and PubMed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website was used as source to find information about certain demographics. Articles were chosen if they were published between the years of 2008-2018. Articles were searched using the terms “tobacco,”, “marketing”, “vulnerable populations”, “low-income”, “mental illnesses”, “LGBT” and “minorities”. Overall, a total of 12 articles and one weblink from the CDC was used.

Findings: African-Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and individuals from low-income communities are exposed more to tobacco products and marketing. Findings showed that transgender adults use tobacco a much higher rates than cisgender adults, menthol cigarettes were originally marketed as being healthier than non-menthol cigarettes, mental health and addiction treatment providers have rationalized that their failure to treat tobacco dependence is a form of harm reduction in that it is viewed as a healthier alternative, and the tobacco industry targeted low SES women as early as the 1970s.

Conclusion: Tobacco companies have been targeting these vulnerable populations for years. There still needs to be more research done on “healthier” alternatives to smoking cigarettes.