Abstract
In 1999, 23.5% of the U.S. population smoked, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking continues to represent a significant public health problem. It is particularly prevalent among detained aliens held in an administrative detention setting. In an effort to quantify this behavior, detainees (N=740) were asked at time of the medical history and physical whether they smoked cigarettes. The findings reveal that 70% of Asian/Pacific Islanders, 60% of Blacks, 55% of Caucasians, and 46% of Hispanics self-reported as smokers. Notable was the high number of Asian smokers. Since the majority of detainees were Hispanic, the group was further divided into age subsets. Prevalence calculations showed that those in their teens, 20s and 30s had the highest smoking rates per thousand (727, 488, and 477, respectively). Education about health hazards of smoking and how to quit are indicated. Health care personnel at this and similar facilities should conduct educative efforts with cultural values in mind and focus on the age range of late teens to early 30s to prevent the long-term health problems commonly associated with a lifetime of smoking.
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