 It is well known that compared to other ethnic/racial groups, American Indians misuse tobacco earlier, at higher rates, and with more severe health consequences. Smoking rates among American Indians vary by geographic and cultural factors, but are highest in the Northern Plains area that includes Minnesota . According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 48% of Indian men and 40% of women in this area report current cigarette smoking (CDC, 2003b). The IHS (2002) indicates that 42% of pregnant women and 40% of diabetics in Minnesota misuse tobacco.
American Indians in Minnesota have disproportionately higher rates of health problems associated with tobacco misuse. In Minnesota four of the five leading causes of death among American Indians are related to tobacco misuse: cancer, coronary heart disease, diabetes, and chronic lung disease (MDH, 2003).
Little is known about why tobacco misuse is so high among American Indians in this region. Likewise, little is known about effective strategies to prevent tobacco misuse among Indian people. Methodological and conceptual flaws limit the usefulness of most of the published research on American Indians. Research findings are reduced and taken out of context, until they bear little relationship to the lived reality of Indian people. Rarely are American Indians involved in planning, implementation and interpretation of research on their communities.
The AICTP partners came together in 2001 to begin to address these issues. The research is driven by the questions generated by Indian people, who also collect the information, and also help analyze, interpret and disseminate it in a way that will be useful to the urban Indian community. The AICTP intends to expand the knowledge base of and about the Twin Cities American Indian community regarding all types of tobacco use, and will provide the basis for developing an intervention strategy specific to the urban Indian community. |
Link
to: Academic Health Center : School
of Public Health : U of M Home 
American Indian Community Tobacco Project 
