Today, I had the chance to meet with two aboriginal/indigenous Australians who work on the Aboriginal Health Council. Whereas the national smoking rate for all Australians is around 12%, that rate is very different for smaller groups, including the aboriginal Australians. Their rate is 35% , and 49% for pregnant aboriginal women. That means half of pregnant aboriginal women smoke. What I learned in this interview is that the main reason for the high rates is mostly due to the culture of indigenous peoples. Tobacco was used as a form of payment in the 1900's, so that has resonated with the elders, and they don't see their lives without it. They also have their own forms of tobacco, which are purely herbal, meaning there are no added chemicals that we see in mass-produced cigarette brands. These herbal tobacco cigarettes were used to heal the body, so they believe that this outweighs any long term detrimental affects. As for the rate for pregnant women; they smoke because it le...
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