Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey (MATS) African-American Study

Report reveals prominence of tobacco use in Minnesota’s African-American communities

Results from a study of tobacco use in Minnesota’s African-American communities have been released.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of death in the U.S, and the rates of heart disease, stroke and cancer caused by smoking are even more devastating in the African-American community. This study suggests that African-American adults in Minnesota experience tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke as pervasive in their communities and that messages about the availability of stop-smoking assistance may not be reaching all African-Americans in our state.

The report summarizes findings from two complementary studies:

• Quantitative research from the 2007 Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey (MATS)
• Qualitative research via community focus groups and interviews with African-American community members and leaders