Indigenous peoples, tobacco use and the role of the commercial tobacco industry
2025

Indigenous Peoples and Tobacco Use

Commentary Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Maddox Raglan, Whop Lisa J.

Primary Institution: National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, The Australian National University

Conclusion

The commercial tobacco industry exploits Indigenous peoples through predatory marketing and misleading health claims, contributing to high rates of tobacco use and related health issues.

Supporting Evidence

  • Tobacco companies use Indigenous imagery in marketing to mislead consumers.
  • Smoking causes over 20,000 deaths each year in Australia, with a significant impact on Indigenous populations.
  • Daily vaping rates among Māori are significantly higher than those of European descent.

Takeaway

The tobacco industry tries to make smoking seem cool and normal, especially to Indigenous people, which makes it hard for them to quit and stay healthy.

Potential Biases

The tobacco industry uses misleading advertising and sponsorships to promote tobacco use among Indigenous peoples.

Participant Demographics

Indigenous peoples, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1111/resp.14869

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