First Nations communities and tobacco taxation: A commentary

• Published in: American Indian and Alaska native mental health research Vol. 16; no. 2; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Samji, Hasina, Wardman, Dennis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Indian and Alaska Native Programs 2009
• Subjects: Adults; Canada; Canada - epidemiology; Canada Natives; Community Participation - economics; Community Participation - methods; Community Participation - statistics & numerical data; Foreign Countries; Health Behavior; Health Promotion; Health Promotion - methods; Humans; Incidence; Indians, North American - psychology; Indians, North American - statistics & numerical data; Intervention; Inuit - psychology; Inuit - statistics & numerical data; Nicotiana - adverse effects; Prevalence; Program Development - economics; Program Development - methods; Program Effectiveness; Public Health; Reservation American Indians; Smoking; Smoking - adverse effects; Smoking - epidemiology; Smoking Cessation - methods; Smoking Prevention; Taxes; Taxes - economics; Taxes - legislation & jurisprudence; Taxes - statistics & numerical data; Tobacco Use Disorder - epidemiology; Tobacco Use Disorder - mortality; Tobacco Use Disorder - prevention & control; Canada
• ISSN: 1533-7731; 1533-7731
• DOI: 10.5820/aian.1602.2009.1

Taxation of tobacco is a widely used strategy that promotes smoking cessation among adults and reduces cigarette consumption among continuing smokers. First Nations (FN) populations' tobacco use is estimated to be 2-3 times that of other Canadians and, in part, a reflection that tobacco products purchased on reserve by FN people are tax exempt. The purpose of this paper is to present a commentary related to the implementation and impact of a tobacco tax within an FN community.