Why Aboriginal people smoke?

• The traditional smoking ceremony cleanses and protects the strength of the spirit. Tobacco smoking is not part of Aboriginal culture and harms the body.
• The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), the peak organisation representing community-controlled Aboriginal health services, says smoking is not a single issue but is interwoven with other factors such as poverty, low levels of education, lack of employment opportunities, poor nutrition, disempowerment and stress¹.
• In many Aboriginal communities where stress is a lived daily reality it is therefore not surprising that smoking rates remain high.
• For further information on why Aboriginal people smoke, see the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Tobacco Control website.

^{1- Mundy, J. 2001, Smoking: Indigenous health's greatest challenge. Connexions 2000-2001: 4-8., p.6}