Indy Orgs Join Forces to Help African Americans Quit Smoking

More than 24 percent of African American adults in Indiana report that they currently use tobacco. That’s over the state’s average of 21 percent.

That’s why the American Lung Association and the National Urban League announced a partnership to address health disparities in the African American community by offering free smoking cessation services. Funded through a $1 million grant from the CVS Health Foundation, this partnership will serve those who face a disproportionate burden of tobacco use and tobacco-related illness by giving access to the American Lung Association’s Freedom From Smoking® program, a proven-effective smoking cessation program, in several cities across the country, including Indianapolis.

“We have made tremendous progress against tobacco addiction and the smoking rate is half of what it was in 1964, but not everyone has benefited equally,” said American Lung Association National President and CEO Harold P. Wimmer. “Some groups have been historically underserved with tobacco control efforts and today have higher tobacco use rates as a result. It’s important that we address this disparity with partners like the National Urban League and CVS Health so that we can prevent and reduce tobacco-related illnesses in all parts of our society.”

Every year in Indiana, more than 11,000 people die from tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, making it the leading cause of preventable death in the country. Smoking can cause or worsen numerous diseases and conditions, including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease and more. In fact, tobacco use is a major contributor to the three leading causes of death among African Americans—heart disease, cancer and stroke—and causes 45,000 African American deaths every year. Additionally, nearly 90 percent of African Americans over the age of 12 who smoke use menthol cigarettes.

“The Indianapolis Urban League is proud to partner with the National Urban League and CVS on the Freedom Smoking program designed to address and decrease the smoking rates in African American communities locally and statewide. As smoking related illnesses and deaths among Indiana adults and youth increase, and combined with glamourized smoking messages specifically targeted at our African American youth, the IUL is deeply committed to offering the resources and support that are not always readily accessible for individuals to become empowered to quit,” said Anthony Mason, Indianapolis Urban League President and CEO.

The Lung Association will work with the National Urban League to promote and provide their proven-effective smoking cessation program, Freedom From Smoking®, to African American communities in Chicago, Atlanta, Indianapolis and Washington, D.C. Freedom From Smoking has helped more than one million smokers quit and is offered in person, online and by phone. Participants will learn about building a quit plan, medications that can aid quitting smoking, lifestyle changes that support quitting smoking, how to manage stress and how to overcome relapse and become smokefree for good. Individuals in those communities that are interested in receiving support can visit Lung.org/nul or call 1-800-LUNGUSA for more information.

Support for the partnership between the Lung Association and National Urban League is being provided through Be The First, CVS Health’s five-year $50 million initiative to help deliver the nation’s first tobacco-free generation and extend the company’s larger commitment to helping people lead tobacco-free lives. The Lung Association and the National Urban League are among a roster of national organizations who are supporting CVS Health’s campaign to accelerate declines in rates of smoking and other tobacco use among teens and young adults.

“We recognize that the use and effects of tobacco use in multicultural communities are significant, and we want to play a leading role in reducing smoking in these communities,” said CVS Health Foundation President Eileen Howard Boone. “We are proud to help bring together the tobacco control expertise of the American Lung Association with the multicultural reach of the National Urban League to advance smoking cessation efforts in the African American community and help people on their path to better health by living tobacco-free lives.”