Tobacco Cessation and Health Equity
The single largest health equity opportunity is tobacco cessation. There are over 28 million smokers and 46 million users of tobacco products in the USA. People who use tobacco are more likely to belong to populations that are underserved and have less access to treatment.
Health equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health. Achieving this requires focused and ongoing societal efforts to address historical and contemporary injustices; overcome economic, social, and other obstacles to health and healthcare; and eliminate preventable health disparities.
Some groups disproportionately affected by tobacco (higher prevalence, diminished access to treatment) include:
Active military and veterans, Blue-collar workers, Children, adolescents and young adults, Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, Individuals with mental illness, including addictive disorders, Migrant agricultural workers, People of low socioeconomic status, including the homeless, People with disabilities, People with limited education, including high school non-completers, People with mental illness, Pregnant and breastfeeding women, Racial/ethnic minorities (e.g., African Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans, Latinos, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, and individuals identifying with multiple racial groups), Rural residents, and Sexual/gender minorities (e.g., Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender people).
Overall, the performance of clinicians in providing tobacco services is poor. The Surgeon Generals’ Report cites data showing that four out of every nine adult cigarette smokers who saw a health professional during the past year did not receive advice to quit. These data help us understand why only 7.5% of adult smokers successfully quit smoking in the past year.
Fortunately, there are solutions available for every type of clinical scenarios including Tobacco Cessation Change Package (hhs.gov), and Office Champions | AAFP.
Lets have a conversation about how we can achieve health equity in tobacco cessation
Edward Anselm, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Reimbursement for Tobacco Cessation — Edward Anselm, MD (edwardanselmmd.com)