Data reveals decrease in Louisiana’s African-American smokers

Since the inception of the SU Ag Center’s Communities of Color Network in 2003, Louisiana has seen a significant decrease in the prevalence of tobacco use among African Americans. According to Tonia Moore, grants and contract coordinator with Louisiana Public Health Institute, Louisiana has witnessed a large volume of African-American callers to the Louisiana Quit Line in the last four years (approximately 31-37% of the callers are African Americans).  

“This speaks volumes to the number of Louisianans who are ready to kick the habit and improve their overall health,” said Moore. 

Although the numbers continue to decrease, African Americans in Louisiana are twice as likely as other races to die from tobacco-related illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. According to data from the 2007-2008 Adult Tobacco Survey, African-American nonsmokers are more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke at work than white non-smokers. African-American smokers are less likely to have smoke-free homes than white smokers.  According to the 2009 Louisiana Youth Tobacco Survey, 49% of African-American middle school smokers usually smoke menthol cigarettes and 64% of African-American high school smokers usually smoke menthol cigarettes.  African-American youth are much more likely to smoke Black & Mild cigars than white youth.  

“The data reflects the need to build awareness and implement community and organizational policies among African-American communities,” said Moore. 

Harrell takes Smoke Out, CoC Network message to airwaves

Communities of Color Network Region 6 coordinator Shawntell Lewis Harrell joined local radio station personalities in promoting this week's Great American Smokeout challenge. Harrell also shared the  information on the CoC Network and its 100% Tobacco Free Church initiative. Hear the interview here. For more information on the Great American Smokeout, visit http://www.cancer.org/docroot/subsite/greatamericans/Smokeout.asp. 

What TI won't tell you

SU Ag Center and Communities of Color Network supporter Dr. Victor DeNoble candidly reveals how the tobacco industry targets African Americans for its poisonous cigarette sales. DeNoble is the famed whistleblower against the tobacco industry (TI). His lawsuit resulted in the industry being fined billions of dollars. View it at The Truth about Menthol. For more information on CoC Network, read www.suagcenter.com/communitiesofcolor.html

CoC Network educates hundreds at Essence Music Festival

On July 3-5 all roads led to New Orleans for the 15th Annual Essence Music Festival. The Festival is a weekend celebration of African-American music, culture, fashion, beauty, and empowerment seminars. Each day of the festival, Center’s Communities Network coordinators dangers of tobacco consumption secondhand smoke youth and members grassroots community.

For more information on the Southern University Ag Center's Communities of Color Network, visit www.suagcenter.com/communitiesofcolor

World NO Tobacco Day Symposium scheduled for May 30

New legislation in Congress would allow the Food and Drug Administration to band flavored cigarettes (which are marketed to youth) but not band menthol cigarettes (which are marketed to Blacks). Some health experts believe that this plan could leave Black Americans at more risk.

The Southern University Ag Center's Communities of Color Network monitors the tobacco industry in Louisiana and educates the community. 

On May 30, World NO Tobacco Day, at 11am the CoC Network will host a symposium for area churches to learn outreach education strategies to make their church community 100% tobacco free.  Join us in educating your family and friends about smoking risks on World NO Tobacco Day. 

For more information on this symposium, contact Latricia Dixon, regional coordinator, Communities of Color, (225) 771-2242 ext. 283 or latricia_dixon@suagcenter.com. Visit www.suagcenter.com/communitiesofcolor.html for more on the CoC Network.

19-year-old gives tobacco testimony

Nineteen year old Brandon Dorn recently sat down with the Ag Center's Communities of Color Network to share his experience with tobacco and why he chose to stop smoking. Here is his story:

Brandon Dorn is only 19 years old, but he’s experienced numerous hardships which led him down an undesirable path.  With mounting pressures at school and home, Dorn began using tobacco four years ago because, he said, it was “something to do and it calmed my nerves.”  Although it was something to do at the time, Dorn said, he soon realized smoking wasn’t the right thing to do—at least not for him.   

 “I stopped because I have a future!  I had scouts coming to watch me play basketball and football, and I had to get myself into shape.  I didn’t want to ruin my chance of going to college and an opportunity for a better life.  If I could go to college, then I could really go somewhere and achieve my dreams.  A lot of people helped me out; I didn’t want to disappoint them.  I didn’t want them to know that I was hurting myself by smoking, so I just stopped.  I could smoke if I wanted to, but I really don’t want to smoke anymore!” he said.

“I would tell other young people, if you have a future and know you can do something with your life—smoking is not a wise choice.  Smoking should not be a part of your life at all.  It will not benefit you.”

For more information tobacco risks, contact Linda Early Brown, M.Ed., Communities of Color Network, (225) 771-2242 or linda_brown@suagcenter.com

CoC takes radio interview for Kick Butts Day

Shreveport radio station interviews the Ag Center's Communities of Color Network regional coordinator Shawntell Lewis for Kick Butts Day. Great interview! Congratulations CoC Network!

Simon joins Communities of Color Network

The Southern University Ag Center welcomes Shirley Simon to the Communities of Color Network as regions 1 and 3 coordinator. In this capacity, she works collaboratively with members of the communities, organizations and partners to increase the awareness of the harmful impact of tobacco, secondhand smoke and tobacco use cessation among Louisiana citizens.

Simon is a native of Selma, AL. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from Southern University, New Orleans in business
administration and a master’s degree from Xavier University in post secondary counseling education.

Previously, Simon served as recruitment manager/instructor at Southern University, New Orleans, where she managed the day-to-day operations of the alternative teacher certification program until 2008.

Communities of Color Network is an affiliate program of the Louisiana Tobacco-Free Living Campaign.

State organization raises awareness about tobacco use

By Shawntell Lewis-Harrell

Regional Coordinator 

You can read this story at http://www.concordiasentinel.com/news.php?id=3252

Communities of Color Network (CoC) is a statewide initiative at Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center commissioned to reduce tobacco use, consumption and secondhand exposures among parishes such as Concordia that have an African-American population of 25 percent

or more.

CoC Network is an affiliated program of The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living.

 "Tobacco use is the number one killer among African Americans -- we're saving lives," comments CoC Network Program Director, Linda Early Brown. "We exist to make a difference through tobacco education and awareness. The tobacco industry spends millions marketing their product to smokers

and our children, especially in the African-American community. We educate citizens how to recognize these tactics and encourage others to join the fight to reduce morbidity and mortality rates in Louisiana's communities of color."  

"Research proves tobacco is a life threatening issue for our families and our communities," said Gina E. Eubanks, vice chancellor for extension at SU Ag Center. "It's alarming to know that more African Americans die annually from tobacco related diseases than homicides, HIV, diabetes and accidental deaths, combined. SU Ag Center is committed to supporting the efforts of CoC Network in reducing and eradicating tobacco consumption statewide."   

"More than 70 percent of African American smokers wish to quit smoking," said Brown. "But, we have the smallest success rate of any group because of a lack of tobacco education. These numbers can and will change for the better -- Louisiana's communities of color may one day lead the way

to tobacco-free living. Our motto is CoC Network is not waiting until the smoke clears, CoC Network is clearing the smoke."

For more information call 318-767-2609.

Communities of Color Network clears the smoke

Louisiana statistics indicate that students engage in the harmful practice of smoking at early ages. To combat this, the Ag Center’s Communities of Color Network continues its mission of reducing tobacco use, consumption, and second-hand smoke exposure among Louisiana’s African-American communities. The CoC Network builds solution-oriented coalitions and provides educational experiences to teach citizens about dangers of tobacco and the industry’s marketing strategies.

CoC staff actively participates in more than 14 coalitions statewide and are established many and with more coalitions on the horizon. Regional coordinator Latricia Dixon provided a general tobacco workshop to students at Jackson Middle School.  Dixon engaged the children in activities and allowed them opportunities to express concerns about tobacco in their environments.

Educational opportunities and interactive activities were provided in Avoyelles Parish where Shawntell Harrell, CoC Network regional coordinator, taught Bunkie Middle School students about the chemicals found in such products as cigarettes, cigars and smokeless tobacco.

Paula Jordan, CoC Network regional coordinator, presented a tobacco basics workshop to patients of the Lydia Outreach Clinic, January 20.  Jordan provided the group with useful tips on how to keep their homes and kids tobacco-free. She also introduced the tobacco curriculum to Second Baptist Deliverance Church in Eunice, January 25.  It was the first of a series of workshops to encourage a 100% tobacco-free church, based on criteria and guidelines established by the Communities of Color Network.  The curriculum is customized to fit the needs of Second Baptist.  The importance of the workshop was further emphasized when the ministers correlated the message with a biblical passage for the parishioners.

Regional coordinator Eric Murphy utilized visual presentations to engage approximately 15 participants at the Adult Learning Center at Southern University, Shreveport, in interesting dialogue concerning the health risks associated with smoking.

Program director Linda Early Brown persistently encourages the citizens of Louisiana to seek opportunities to get their communities involved in the initiative provided by Communities of Color Network in tobacco education of Louisiana citizens. “Coalition and educational opportunities are available statewide,” said Brown. 

Ag Center in the News

Last week, the Ag Center garnered the attention of two newspapers for three separate events:

1. The Advocate reported on the Center's Communities of Color Network "Wake Up Louisiana!" seminar at the Southern University J.K. Haynes School of Nursing. There, scientist Victor DeNoble, Ph.D., relayed his experience as a researcher in the tobacco industry where he learned how the industry intentionally lied about the dangers of nicotine. Read about it at: http://www.2theadvocate.com/features/39292137.html

2. The Shreveport Sun reported on a local farmer's trip to Tennessee for the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group's 18th Annual Practical Tools and Sustaining Family

 Farms Conference. Shreveport farmer Jonathan Jackson credited LSU and Southern University ag centers and our agents for continued assistance throughout his farming career. 

3. The Advocate columnist Smiley Anderson shared a note from Renita Marshall, DVM, livestock programs director, on the opportunities to purchase meat for the upcoming livestock show. Read it at: http://www.2theadvocate.com/columnists/smiley/39354127.html

Researcher to disclose tobacco industry secrets, Feb. 3

Experimental psychologist Victor DeNoble, Ph.D., will present "What the Tobacco Industry Doesn't Want You to Know" Tuesday, February 3, at the Southern University Baton Rogue J.K. Haynes School of Nursing.

The 11 am forum is DeNoble's tell-all discussion on tobacco industry secrets. He has been a key witness in government hearings examining the practices of the tobacco industry. His testimony was an important part of the mounting evidence that damaged the tobacco industry's creditability and ultimately led to the multi-billion dollar tobacco settlement. This forum is free and open to the public, including middle and high school groups.

 

Sponsors: Southern University Ag Center Communities of Color Network, Southern University School of Nursing, Tobacco-Free Living, and Our Lady of the Lake College.

For more information, contact Linda Early Brown, linda_brown@suagcenter.com