How 2nd Hand Smoke How 2nd Hand Smoke Disproportionately Impacts the Disproportionately Impacts the

Latino CommunityLatino CommunityNational Latino National Latino

Council on Council on Alcohol and Alcohol and

Tobacco Tobacco Prevention Prevention

(LCAT)(LCAT)

Katherine Katherine Culliton,Esq.Culliton,Esq.Policy DirectorPolicy Director

Photo by: Sarah L. Voisin – The Washington PostPhoto by: Sarah L. Voisin – The Washington Post Photos compiled Photos compiled

Established in 1989, LCAT is the Established in 1989, LCAT is the only national organization only national organization dedicated to combating the dedicated to combating the negative impact of alcohol and negative impact of alcohol and tobacco in the Latino community. tobacco in the Latino community.

LCAT’s workLCAT’s work

• Advocacy Advocacy • Public EducationPublic Education• National NetworksNational Networks• PromotorasPromotoras• Work in SpanishWork in Spanish• Community levelCommunity level• Hear about & help Hear about & help

resolve resolve discriminationdiscrimination

• According to the National According to the National Census, “Hispanics” Census, “Hispanics” represented more than represented more than 49%49% of of population growth 2000-2004population growth 2000-2004

• The Latino population is more The Latino population is more than 41.3 million, signifying the than 41.3 million, signifying the largest “minority” in the U.S.largest “minority” in the U.S.

Latinos in the Latinos in the United StatesUnited States

• The Latino population The Latino population is the youngest, with a is the youngest, with a median age of 14 median age of 14 years less than non-years less than non-Hispanics.Hispanics.

• The Census also The Census also indicates that the indicates that the Latino population is Latino population is growing at a rapid growing at a rapid rate, especially among rate, especially among the youth and recent the youth and recent immigrants. This immigrants. This means it will continue means it will continue to be very young.to be very young.

• The Latino community is subject to The Latino community is subject to various forms of discrimination:various forms of discrimination:

1.1. Being harassed about immigration status Being harassed about immigration status 2.2. Highest rates of OTJ injuries (AP)Highest rates of OTJ injuries (AP)3.3. Lowest access to insuranceLowest access to insurance4.4. Highest dropout/pushout rateHighest dropout/pushout rate5.5. Failure to provide language accessFailure to provide language access6.6. Aggressive targeted marketingAggressive targeted marketing

Severe disparate impactSevere disparate impact on access to health, on access to health, data collection & other Title VI issuesdata collection & other Title VI issues

Second Hand SmokeSecond Hand Smoke• Latinos smoking rates are a bit less than Latinos smoking rates are a bit less than

other groups, and Latinos favor clean air other groups, and Latinos favor clean air policies.policies.

• However, the great majority of restaurant, However, the great majority of restaurant, bar, hotel & other service workers are bar, hotel & other service workers are Latinos, whose labor rights are less Latinos, whose labor rights are less respected.respected.

• Therefore, 2nd hand smoke has a Therefore, 2nd hand smoke has a disparate impact on the Latino community.disparate impact on the Latino community.

• We hope the Surgeon General’s report We hope the Surgeon General’s report addresses this issue of discriminatory addresses this issue of discriminatory impact.impact.

• LCAT & our networks can use the SG LCAT & our networks can use the SG report as an advocacy tool.report as an advocacy tool.

What can we do to What can we do to protect Latino protect Latino

community health?community health?• Listen to communities of color & hear Listen to communities of color & hear

them well about discrimination.them well about discrimination.• Provide culturally competent community Provide culturally competent community

health services, also with language health services, also with language access.access.

• Create Latino-centered policy/programs.Create Latino-centered policy/programs.• Build Latino networks & coalitions. Build Latino networks & coalitions. • Raise awareness of our civil rights issues.Raise awareness of our civil rights issues.

Community Activism Community Activism • Build on many Build on many

positive aspects positive aspects of Latino culture.of Latino culture.

• Activism may be Activism may be therapeutic.therapeutic.

• Great Great opportunity to opportunity to support the support the emerging Latino emerging Latino civil rights civil rights movement.movement.

Katherine CullitonKatherine CullitonLCATLCAT

(202) 265-8054(202) 265-8054kculliton@nlcatp.org

www.nlcatp.org

¡¡Muchísimas Muchísimas Gracias!Gracias!