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Average age American Indians begin smoking
Source: National Library of Medicine2

Most American Indians Start Smoking in Early Teens

Most American Indians begin smoking in early adolescence.1 In fact, more than 70%2 of teens have smoked a cigarette. Today, electronic cigarettes are the tobacco product of choice among young people.

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American Indian and Alaska Native Youth

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are the Second Highest Users of Tobacco

Among all ethnic groups in U.S. middle and high schools, American Indian and Alaska Native youth were the second highest users3 of tobacco at 43.8% between 2014 and 2017. Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander people had the highest usage in this age group at 45.1%.

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43.8% of American Indian and Alaska Native
middle and high school students use tobacco
Source: CDC3

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Nicotine Affects Brain Development

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Exposure to nicotine during teen years can affect cognitive abilities.4 Responsible for executive functions and attention performance, the prefrontal cortex continues to develop during adolescence. When teenagers smoke, they suffer attention deficits, which can increase in intensity as they continue to smoke. Teens who smoke are also at greater risk of developing psychiatric disorders and other mental issues into adulthood. Additionally, smokers are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and behaviors5 than those who never smoked.

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Resources

References

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3118872/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3543069/
  3. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6734a3.htm
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3543069/
  5. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0156348#:~:text=Compared%20to%20nonsmokers%2C%20the%20current,(P%3C0.001)%2C%20and