Research Finds Black Youth in Public Housing Are More Likely to Take Up Smoking

While cigarette smoking has declined among all ethnic groups, each day about 4,000 youngsters will try a cigarette for the first time and 25 percent of these youths will become regular smokers.

Research published in the journal Addictive Behaviors has found that for African American youths, those who live in public housing projects are 2.3 times more likely to take up smoking than other African American adolescents. Youths in these communities may be exposed to more stress than other youths due to higher crime rates, gang activity, and higher rates of poverty.

Mansoo Yu, an assistant professor of social work at the University of Missouri and a co-author of the study, states, “Smoking cessation programs for young African Americans living in public housing communities should focus on reversing their positive attitudes toward tobacco use. Early interventions are critical for these individuals since the likelihood of being exposed to risky behaviors increases as the children age.”

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

Recent Books of Interest to African American Scholars

The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education regularly publishes a list of new books that may be of interest to our readers. The books included are on a wide variety of subjects and present many different points of view.

Online Articles That May Be of Interest to JBHE Readers

Each week, JBHE will provide links to online articles that may be of interest to our readers. Here are this week’s selections.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

In Memoriam: Nathan Howard Cook, 1939-2024

Dr. Cook was a longtime faculty member and administrator at Lincoln University of Missouri. A full professor of biology, he held several leadership roles including vice president for academic affairs.

Featured Jobs