Prevalence of tobacco use among those urban African-American 18- to 24-year-olds not in college is alarmingly high. Recent data from Baltimore inner-city neighborhoods indicate that over 60 percent of such young adults smoke cigarettes. This study explores community-level factors contributing to this problem with the goal of developing program and policy approaches that will reduce tobacco use and consumption.
- To further our understanding of the contextual (neighborhood/community) factors associated with tobacco use in 18- to 24-year-old, urban African-Americans not in higher educational settings.
- To investigate how the informal economy and social networks of tobacco users contribute to acquisition of cigarettes and continuation of tobacco use
- To develop and pilot test appropriate interventions and policies that will lead to a strategic citywide plan of action.
Four focus groups and a survey were conducted with 28 young adults (20 men and 8 women), 23 of whom were smokers and 5 non-smokers. Focus group domains included social norms concerning tobacco use, tobacco acquisition practices, smoking and socializing, smoking restrictions and tobacco advertising. These descriptive data informed the survey-question development. Survey topics included prevalence of tobacco use by current and former smokers, age of initiation, smoking behaviors, buying behaviors, and attitudes and social norms related to tobacco use. Of special interest was the purchasing and selling of "loosies."
This study found that the sale of loosies is more pervasive than previously reported, with most of the sales occurring on the street. This quick, easy and affordable way to purchase cigarettes from street vendors and stores undermines tax policies, promotes smoking as a normative behavior and may contribute to high smoking rates in some inner-city communities. While the FDA attempted to eradicate loosies in 1996, current laws differ from state to state and enforcement is lax. Attitudes and behaviors of these young adults, both smokers and nonsmokers, toward loosies in the community, along with the perception that everyone smokes, reflects the normative nature of tobacco use and may explain the lack of interest in quitting. The ultimate goal of this research is to design community-level initiatives promoting cessation in partnership with the target population, community leaders, policy makers and academia to reduce tobacco use community-wide.
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