Hispanic and Latino People

Español (Spanish)
Print
Related Pages

Know the Facts

Cigarette smoking increases your risk for heart disease and cancer, which are the leading causes of death for Hispanic and Latino people in the United States.

  • About 1 in 13 (7.7%) Hispanic or Latino adults in the U.S. smokes cigarettes.*
  • Among Hispanic and Latino people, 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 Hispanic and Latino people.

Learn what percent of people currently smokes cigarettes, both in the United States overall and among specific population groups.

Real Stories: Hispanic and Latino People Featured in Tips®

Learn the real stories of Hispanic and Latino adults who are suffering from smoking-related diseases and disabilities.

Beatrice

Meet Beatrice R. Beatrice, age 40, lives in New York and formerly served in the U.S. Navy. She began smoking regularly at age 13. A mother of two, Beatrice quit smoking in 2010 because she wanted to be around for her family.

Felicita

Meet Felicita R. Felicita, age 54, lives in Florida and began smoking at age 12. She didn’t know smoking could harm her gums and teeth. She lost all her teeth by age 50.

Jessica

Meet Jessica S. Jessica, age 28, lives in New York and has never smoked. Her son, Aden, was diagnosed with asthma at age 3, and exposure to secondhand smoke has triggered asthma attacks.

Mariano

Meet Mariano Z. Mariano, age 55, lives in Illinois. He started smoking at 15. In 2004, he had open heart surgery and barely escaped having a heart attack. He quit smoking — grateful for a second chance at life.

Noel S.

Meet Noel S. Noel, age 42, lives in New York and started smoking menthol cigarettes at age 13. He smoked two packs of cigarettes a day for more than 20 years. He suffered a smoking-related heart attack at the age of 36. He was finally able to quit smoking, change his diet, and exercise regularly.
Rose

Meet Rose H. Rose lived in Texas and began smoking at age 13. She developed lung cancer that later spread to her brain. After many, many treatments, Rose died at age 60.

Learn more about all of the Tips participants in our Real Stories section.

On This Page
Noel S.

Noel S. started smoking menthol cigarettes at age 13. He smoked two packs a day for more than 20 years.

“I’d wake up, smoke. Get in the shower, smoke. Get dressed, smoke … I want to walk down the street and have somebody say to me, ‘I quit smoking because of you.’ That’s my goal.”

Today I start my quit journey. Free resources provided by smokefree.gov
Free Quitting Resources
Telephone
Smartphone Apps/Text
Web
Free Quitting Resources
Telephone
Smartphone Apps/Text
Web
Free Quitting Resources
Web
Smartphone Apps/Text
Telephone

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.

Real Stories: Hispanics/Latinos Featured in Tips®

Learn the real stories of Hispanics and Latinos who are suffering from smoking-related diseases and disabilities.

Felicita
Felicita R. smoked cigarettes and lost all her teeth by age 50. She didn't know that smoking could harm her gums and teeth.
"I feel ashamed of myself, really. I feel like I destroyed my health and my appearance with cigarettes."
More Real Stories:

Learn more about all Tips participants in our Real Stories section.

Today I start my quit journey. Free resources provided by smokefree.gov

* 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

Top of Page