Tobacco-Related Illnesses Killing More Blacks Than AIDS, Violence & Other Cancers

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- Some African-American public health leaders say too many Black people are dying from tobacco-related diseases, and feel that not much attention has been paid to the issue.

Dr. Phillip Gardiner of the African-American Tobacco Control Leadership Council says this is unacceptable

Gardiner, who was with other members of the leadership council in downtown Oakland is calling on President Obama to reinstate language that was deleted from a federal report that states that the Black community is subjected to predatory marketing of menthol and other flavored tobacco products.

"There are more billboard advertisements, there's more special promotions. Menthol cigarettes are cheaper in the African-American communities than they are in other communities. We have data to support this," Gardiner told KCBS.

It's estimated that 45,000 African-Americans die each year from tobacco-related disease.

"It's killing more people than AIDS, violence, than other forms of cancer that are non-tobacco related combined," Carol McGruder of the African-American Tobacco Control Leadership Council said.

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