SMOKING IN BLACK AND MINORITY ETHNIC GROUPS
Anyone walking down the street can see that there are a wide range of people living in Camden. Different cultures and ethnic groups use tobacco in different ways; both its smoking and smokeless forms. These include chewing tobacco, paan, paan masala, pipes, bidis, hookas, nargiles, hubbly-bubblies etc. This means that Smokefree Camden needs to work with different people to offer services that meet the needs of these ethnic groups and the various forms of tobacco that they use.
Smoking is not high in all local people. Some ethnic groups have much higher rates of smoking. Some in men and women and in other groups tobacco use is found more in men. Our local groups that use tobacco more than average include the Bangladeshi, Black Carribean, Chinese and Irish populations.
Despite this, less people from these sections of the community access the stop smoking service than we would hope. In a recent audit, based on proportion of people living in Camden from these different ethnic groups, the Black Caribbean and the Chinese groups are most under represented while the Black African, Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi groups were also significantly under represented. 1 As the rates of tobacco use are not high in all of these groups, the service is focussing on those priority groups mentioned above.
A large proportion of the Camden population is Muslim and to reach this group, each year since 2004, Smokefree Camden, has run successful Ramadan campaigns to raise awareness and offer support to this population. These were carried out in partnership with local mosques and businesses.
We are building on our success to reach these groups year on year and need to work closely together with these communities. To make this happen we are currently developing links with Community groups that represent the Caribbean, Somali and Bangladeshi people in Camden.
Can you get involved as a member of the community?
Can you get involved as a Community Organisation?
Can you get involved as a business?
If your answer is yes to any of the above, drop us an email or simply call us to talk about the possibilities.
1 - Health Equity Audit, 2008. Smokefree Camden, Camden PCT