Beyond incurring productivity losses and healthcare costs, tobacco smoking is also one of the leading causes of preventable diseases in Texas. According to a 2021 article from Epidemiology and Health, smoking behaviors significantly contribute to cancer incidence among adult Texans. Despite ongoing public health campaigns against tobacco use, 19,000 excess cancer cases, or 18.4% of all cancers in Texas, were recently attributed to smoking. These diagnosed cases include cancers in major organs like the lung, oral cavity, stomach, pancreas, and liver.
Stratification by race and ethnicity revealed that non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black individuals had higher proportions of smoking-related cancers at 20.2% and 20.1%, respectively. However, the Hispanic population in Texas still reported a significant portion of cancers attributable to smoking, with 12.8% or 2,902 excess cases.
Although previous studies note that Hispanic adult smokers are less likely to receive advice and treatment for quitting, the following cessation efforts can potentially change this pattern among Tejanos.
Tobacco-free programs in partnership with health institutions
By partnering with clinics, hospitals, and healthcare organizations, Taking Texas Tobacco Free (TTTF) helps reduce tobacco use and promote wellness among Texans. To start with, TTTF’s specialized training resources for tobacco treatment specialists are available in non-English languages, including Spanish. This allows Tejanos to receive culturally competent educational initiatives and motivational interviewing from clinical providers.
TTTF also acknowledges that while smoking rates among the general population have steadily declined, this is not the same for vulnerable populations such as individuals with behavioral health issues. As such, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment centers are another avenue for Tejanos battling with tobacco addiction to receive appropriate screening and counseling.
Growing accessibility of nicotine replacement therapy
Aside from evidence-based behavioral interventions, TTFF also helps smokers quit via pharmaceutical approaches. Behavioral health clients have been receiving nicotine replacement therapy from TTFF since 2013, with about 15,000 boxes of nicotine patches, gum, or lozenges provided to over 250 individual mental health treatment clinics. As TTFF is also carrying out a similar program in SUD treatment centers, the organization’s implementation guide states that these available NRTs include NicoDerm CQ patches and Nicorette gums and lozenges.
Even when Tejanos are not within clinical and healthcare settings, they can still take the initiative in switching to tobacco-free products through other types of over-the-counter NRTs, such as nicotine pouches. Although relatively new to the market, ZYN nicotine pouches, which are purposely designed with Americans in mind, are similar to other oral NRTs like gums and lozenges in terms of discreet use. The various strengths and non-tobacco flavors, including coffee and citrus, also help smokers ease the transition to long-term cessation. While widely available in offline distribution channels, online retailer Prilla ships these pouches across the US, including Texas.
Specialized quitlines for Spanish-speaking patients
To allow Texans to access low-cost cessation services, the Texas Department of State Health Services encourages residents to call the toll-free quitline at 1-877-YES-QUIT. However, in the same way, Crisis Text Line’s 24/7 support began offering its service in Spanish to better cater to the mental health underserved Spanish-speaking populations, adult Tejanos who smoke also deserve specialized cessation services in their native language.
In this light, Tejanos have an additional option besides the Texas Quitline. They can receive free and confidential counseling services and information in the Spanish language by calling the national quitline at 1-855-DEJELO-YA. Research shows that receiving practical and educational support from trained professionals in one’s native language can increase the chances of successful quit attempts.
Given the wide range of cessation approaches, smokers within the Tejano population have a higher chance of making quit attempts and successfully abstaining from tobacco. Whether smokers opt for counseling, medication, or both, local government bodies and health departments must offer support by expanding the coverage of these services and making them more affordable.
