Addressing Social Justice in Tobacco Prevention and Control: The National Latino Tobacco Control Network

Purpose: To reduce tobacco-use disparities, and associated premature deaths and disabilities among Latinos in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, a CDC-funded network was created of community-based organizations, advocates, and public health experts in Latino communities to support evidence-based policies/practices in comprehensive policies, advocacy, prevention, cessation and exposure to secondhand smoke. This presentation highlights promising practices from the National Latino Tobacco Control Network experience.

Background: While Latino rates of smoking are low, many Latinos live in areas with higher smoking rates, being exposed disproportionately to secondhand smoke. Latino smokers also face informational, economic (lack of insurance), and other barriers to smoking cessation programs.

Methods: A Membership Engagement data system was established to capture activities of the Network and its members as they impact community and systems change in policy and advocacy (legislative, regulatory, administrative), research and data, training and technical support, information dissemination, and to identify challenges and best practices.

Results: The establishment of NLTN is proving to be an effective agent that provides the necessary collective support and exchange of approaches aimed at individual and community empowerment. Preliminary results indicate its impact on tobacco use initiation, smoking cessation, and development of policies to reduce tobacco industry influence in Latino communities.