The New York Times reports that Asian Americans in New York City are smoking cigarettes, despite taxes and bans by the new mayor to curb this. The paper reports smoking rates among Asian Americans in the city “haven’t budged since 2002, mostly among Asian-American men.”

Jenna Mandel-Ricci, deputy director at the Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, explains that the bureau carefully studied New York’s population and came to these conclusions. She also explained that among Russian Americans, the city’s smoking population is also considerably high — around 25 percent – and will be further analyzed.

The city explains that part of the problem lies in the homeland of many Asian American immigrants. The Times cites the World Health Organization, which suggests that in South Korea and China, nearly 70 percent of the men smoke. Rates in New York City are far lower than these statistics, at around 17 percent for Asian-American men and under 5 percent for women.

However, cause for concern may not be for first-generation immigrants, but for teenage girls. The paper reports that, while health education in America has informed many young people about the dangers of smoking, among Asian-American girls, the smoking trend seems to be rising. Smoking is seen as “hip and trendy” among friends and as a way to keep up with their peers.

This is quite the opposite of what should be happening, according to Senator Toby Ann Staviksy (D-N.Y.). “The key,” she said, “is teaching children of immigrants the dangers of smoking, so they take that information back home.” She suggests parents may pick up a healthier lifestyle from their children.

Is “lighting up” a concerning cultural trend in The Big Apple, or an old habit that must die hard?

Photo: Justin McCraw, New York City Fifth Avenue H&M Asian smoker

Tags: Asian Americans, health, New York City, smoking, statistics, Toby Ann Stavinsky