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Asian American People
Know the Facts
Smoking raises your risk for cancer, heart disease, and stroke, which are among the leading causes of death for people who are Asian American.
- About 1 in every 20 (5.4%) non-Hispanic Asian adults smokes cigarettes.*
- Among Asian American adults, cigarette smoking is more common in men than women.†
Several factors connect commercial tobacco with higher levels of disease, disability, and death in different population groups. Learn more about health disparities related to commercial tobacco use that affect Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander people.
Learn what percent of people currently smokes cigarettes, both in the United States overall and among specific population groups.
Quit Smoking Medicines
There are 7 quit-smoking medicines approved by the FDA. Explore ways to get free or reduced cost quit-smoking medicines from your health insurance, health plan, or other sources.
View Rico's Story page in Asian languages: Chinese, Korean or Vietnamese
Rico F., age 48, started smoking at age 14. He was diagnosed with cancer at age 45 and was determined to quit so that he could enjoy a healthy life with his family. Since quitting smoking for good, Rico is a cancer survivor who feels passionate about sharing his story to help other smokers quit. Rico feels blessed to be alive to spend time with his family and watch his children finish college. Rico believes that it’s never too late to quit smoking.
“As a former smoker, I know how hard it is to quit. Addiction is a very difficult battle to win, but it can be done!”
View Rico’s Story page in Asian languages: Chinese, Korean or Vietnamese
*Tobacco Product Use Among Adults – United States, 2021. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2023.
†Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults—United States, 2016. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 2018.