American Indian and Alaska Native People

Tips From Former Smokers ®

Know the Facts

Cigarette smoking is more common among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people than almost any other racial or ethnic group in the United States.*

• In 2020, more than 1 in 4 (27.1% ) American Indian/Alaska Native adults smokes cigarettes.*

Several factors connect commercial tobacco with higher levels of disease, disability, and death in different population groups. Learn more about health disparities related to commercial tobacco use that affect American Indian and Alaska Native people.

Smoking increases the chances of:

• Losing members from your tribal community to smoking-related illnesses
• Losing elders to smoking-related diseases or exposure to secondhand smoke before they can pass down tribal customs and traditions

If you are a member of an American Indian or Alaska Native community, you likely know someone with health problems from cigarette smoking—possibly a family member with a cough who struggles to breathe or a friend with lung cancer.

Smoking cigarettes while you are pregnant increases the risk for pregnancy complications. These health problems may be a special risk in AI/AN communities, where smoking during pregnancy is more common than among other ethnic groups.

If you smoke during pregnancy, you may give birth to a premature baby or a baby who weighs less than 5½ pounds. Sudden infant death syndrome (known as SIDS or crib death) is another danger for babies of moms who smoke during pregnancy.

Babies and children who are exposed to cigarette smoke can continue to have health problems. These health problems can include bronchitis, pneumonia, and ear infections. You can help protect future generations by keeping children away from cigarette smoke.

Learn what percent of people currently smokes cigarettes, both in the United States overall and among specific population groups.

Tips%C2%AE" title="Real Stories: American Indian and Alaska Native People Featured in Tips®">Real Stories: American Indian and Alaska Native People Featured in Tips®

Learn the real stories of American Indian and Alaska Native adults who are suffering from illness or health conditions as a result of cigarette smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.

[

Meet Michael P. Michael lived in Alaska and began smoking at age 9. At age 44, he was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which makes it harder and harder to breathe and can cause death. Michael died at age 64.

](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/michael.html)

[

Meet Nathan M. Nathan, a member of the Oglala Sioux tribe, lived in Idaho. Exposure to secondhand smoke at work triggered asthma attacks so severe he had to leave his job. Nathan died at age 54 from lung damage caused by secondhand smoke exposure.

](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/nathan.html)

[

Meet Tammy W. Tammy, age 51, lives in Michigan. She is a member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians tribe. She started smoking menthol cigarettes at age 21. Tammy ate healthy, exercised regularly, and ran marathons. But at age 44, Tammy learned she had severe heart disease and needed open-heart surgery.

](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/tammy-w.html)

On This Page

](https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/stories/tammy-w.html)[Tammy W. is a tribal member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. She ate healthy and ran marathons. She told herself that menthol cigarettes were less harmful than other cigarettes. At age 44, Tammy learned she had severe heart disease and needed open-heart surgery.

“I remember going into surgery and the look on my mom’s face. She thought I was going to die.”

[](https://smokefree.gov/tips)

Learn more about all of the Tips participants in our Real Stories section.

Free Quitting Resources

Telephone

• 1-800-QUIT-NOW
• 1-855-DÉJELO-YA (Español)
• 1-800-838-8917 (中文)
• 1-800-556-5564 (한국어)
• 1-800-778-8440 (Tiếng Việt)

Smartphone Apps/Text

• Text QUITNOW to 333888—Message and data rates may apply
• quitSTART appexternal icon

Web

• Quit Smoking (En Español)
• Smokefree.govexternal icon (En Español)
• Asian Smokers’ Quitlineexternal icon

Free Quitting Resources

Web

• Quit Smoking (En Español)
• Smokefree.govexternal icon (En Español)

Smartphone Apps/Text

• Text QUITNOW to 333888—Message and data rates may apply
• quitSTART appexternal icon—tips, information, and challenges to help you quit

Telephone

• 1-800-QUIT-NOW
• 1-855-DÉJELO-YA (Español)
• Asian Smokers’ Quitlineexternal icon1-800-838-8917 (中文)
• 1-800-556-5564 (한국어)
• 1-800-778-8440 (Tiếng Việt)

Free Quitting Resources

Telephone

• 1-800-QUIT-NOW
• 1-855-DÉJELO-YA (Español)
• 1-800-838-8917 (中文)
• 1-800-556-5564 (한국어)
• 1-800-778-8440 (Tiếng Việt)

Smartphone Apps/Text

• Text QUITNOW to 333888—Message and data rates may apply
• quitSTART appexternal icon

Web

• Quit Smoking (En Español)
• Smokefree.govexternal icon (En Español)
• Asian Smokers’ Quitlineexternal icon

Quit Smoking Medicines

There are 7 quit-smoking medicines approved by the FDA. Explore ways to get free or reduced cost quit-smoking medicines from your health insurance, health plan, or other sources.

Real Stories: American Indian and Alaska Native People Featured in Tips®

Learn the real stories of American Indian and Alaska Native adults who are suffering from illness or health conditions as a result of cigarette smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.

Nathan M., a member of the Native American community and veteran of the U.S. military, never smoked cigarettes. But years of working in a casino that allowed smoking damaged his lungs and led to his death in 2013 at age 54.
“I want to make people aware of the damage that exposure to secondhand smoke can do to you.”

More Real Stories:

• Michael P.

Learn more about all of the Tips participants in our Real Stories section.

[](https://smokefree.gov/tips)

Additional Resources

• SmokefreeNATIVE: a culturally tailored text messaging program to help Native Americans 18 years of age and older quit smoking.
• Keep It Sacred – National Native Network

References

*Tobacco Product Use Among Adults – United States, 2020. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2022.

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