UC San Diego study evaluates culturally tailored anti-tobacco efforts in tribal communities

A study led by the University of California, San Diego, has found that culturally tailored efforts to reduce commercial tobacco use in Native American communities are showing promising results. The California Native American Tobacco Initiative, launched in 2019 by the state’s Department of Public Health, funded 13 tribes and four tribal-serving organizations, aiming to reduce tobacco-related health disparities in Native American communities by focusing on tobacco cessation programming, community engagement and policy changes. Researchers prioritized cultural humility and respected the sacred role of traditional tobacco.