Louisiana's tobacco statistics are startling. The state ranks number two as the largest percentage of African-American smokers. Nearly 24 percent of Louisiana adults smoke and a quarter of high school students in Louisiana are smokers. The Communities of Color Network serves as the infrastructure for building capacity, coordinating, organizing, and implementing tobacco prevention and control programs and activities in the region.



A program of the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, the Communities of Color Network is an affiliated program of the Louisiana Public Health Institute, The Louisiana Campaign For Tobacco-Free Living.

Many health disparities exist inside communities of color. The examination of tobacco-related health disparities and the cultural and socioeconomic dynamics that exist inside communities of color, indicate the need for innovative planning and action to offset the outcomes of tobacco-related health disparities in these communities.

The Communities of Color Network (CoC) does its part of innovative planning and action by
1) working inside communities of color educating and empowering people to create healthier communities and by
2) working strategically within their regional tobacco subcommittees.

The Communities of Color Network works to:

• reduce tobacco-related morbidity and mortality among Louisiana's communities of color, including African-American and Hispanic communities in
(Click here for the map)
• Regions 1 and 3 - St. Mary, St. Charles, St. John, St. James and Orleans parishes
• Regions 2 and 9 - East Feliciana, West Feliciana, East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, St. Helena, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes
• Regions 4 and 5 - Calcasieu, Iberia, Evangeline, St. Landry, and St. Martin parishes
• Regions 6 - Rapides, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia
• Regions 7 - Caddo, Bienville, Claiborne, DeSoto, Red River
• Regions 8 - East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Richland, Tensas, Union
• enhance the awareness of the dangers of tobacco
• reduce tobacco use, consumption, and secondhand smoke exposures among Louisiana's communities of color ; and
• eliminate health disparities caused by or related to tobacco use in Louisiana's communities of color.

1. increases knowledge of and community response to significant negative health impact of tobacco on Louisiana 's communities of color and tobacco industry's targeting of Louisiana's communities of color; and
2. develops culturally competent messaging, programs, and strategies for Louisiana tobacco prevention and control
3. initiates or strengthen tobacco-free policies affecting Louisiana's communities of color