Health Equity

Every month, the Geographic Health Equity Alliance (GHEA) aggregates upcoming webinars, events and other resources hosted by the CDC-funded National Networks.

Across the United States, there is unequal protection offered by commercial tobacco control in significant geographical differences in commercial tobacco use, as well as poor health outcomes associated with tobacco. In 2021, the Population Level Analysis and Community Estimates (PLACES)- a collaboration between the CDC and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation- released estimates of smoking prevalence across all US Census tracts, allowing these inequities to be quantified. In a recent scientific letter, “Place Based Inequities in Cigarette Smoking Across the US”, researchers characterized inequities in cigarette smoking in 500 of the largest US cities.

The National Coalition Institute recently hosted a Research into Action webinar featuring Veronica Chaitan in which she shared findings from a recent article, “Draining the Tobacco Swamps: Shaping Tthe Built Environment to Reduce Tobacco Retailer Proximity to Residents In 30 Big US Cities,” published in Health & Place in 2022. She discussed the existing tobacco retail environment in 30 major US cities and the effect of retail reduction policies. The webinar recording is now available.

Each month, GHEA aggregates the latest news and research related to place-based tobacco control and geographic health disparities. This page is updated regularly throughout the month.

Each month, the Geographic Health Equity Alliance (GHEA) aggregates the latest news and research related to place-based cancer control and geographic health disparities. This page is updated regularly throughout the month.

The tobacco industry has invested a significant amount of time and money in marketing that connects commercial tobacco products that contain nicotine with stress relief and mental well-being. The CDC reports that many of today’s youth may turn to commercial tobacco products that contain nicotine as a way to cope with stress. However, nicotine is a highly addictive drug that has been shown to worsen symptoms of anxiety and depression, especially among youth who are suffering from nicotine dependence and attempt to quit. The Truth Initiative recently released a new campaign titled “Toxic Therapy from your Vape” which aims to address the connection between vaping nicotine and its adverse effects on youth mental health.

Commercial tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in the United States. Certain policies and practices have led to significant geographical differences in the prevalence of commercial tobacco use, as well as poor health outcomes associated with commercial tobacco, within the US. The tobacco industry has a long history of targeting rural areas by offering discounts and special sales, tailored advertising, sponsoring cultural events such as rodeos, and placing commercial tobacco products in discount stores. These high-pressure marketing tactics, combined with the lack of state and local comprehensive smoke-free and retail policies, have led to longstanding disparities related to commercial tobacco product initiation, use, and cessation as well as secondhand smoke exposure and commercial tobacco-related health disparities in these areas.

Every month, the Geographic Health Equity Alliance (GHEA) aggregates upcoming webinars, events and other resources hosted by the CDC-funded National Networks.

Each month, the Geographic Health Equity Alliance (GHEA) aggregates the latest news and research related to place-based cancer control and geographic health disparities. This page is updated regularly throughout the month.

Each month, GHEA aggregates the latest news and research related to place-based tobacco control and geographic health disparities. This page is updated regularly throughout the month.

CADCA’s Geographic Health Equity Alliance (GHEA), is thrilled to announce that they have received five more years of funding from a jointly funded cooperative agreement through CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) and Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (DCPC). GHEA is a recipient of CDC-RFA-DP-23-0015: CDC’s National Networks Driving Action: Preventing Tobacco- and Cancer- related Health Disparities by Building Equitable Communities.

For decades the tobacco industry has used flavored products to mask the harshness and flavor of tobacco, which is particularly appealing to youth. E-cigarettes, an electronic device that heats liquid and produces aerosol, are the most popular commercial tobacco product youth use. The devices typically contain nicotine and come in several enticing flavors including candy, fruit and menthol, making them highly addicting and dangerous. To combat this tactic by the commercial tobacco industry, the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) recently released a new campaign, Empower Vape-Free Youth. The goal of this campaign is to empower middle and high school educators to speak with youth about the risks of e-cigarettes and nicotine addiction and to encourage youth to avoid and/or quit vaping.