The overall percentage of smokers in Los Angeles County has reached a new low of 14.3% on average. But recently released reports illustrate a sharp difference in smoking rates along racial, cultural and geographic divides.

The lowest smoking rates were found in expensive, white areas with high education levels, such as San Marino (5.3%), Malibu (5.8%) and LaCanada-Flintridge (6.4%).

Broken down into ethnicity and gender, the highest rates of smoking were found to be among:

Korean-American males: 44.8%
African-American males: 32.1%
Vietnamese-American males: 24.8%
African-American females: 19.6%
Latino-American males: 17.7%
Filipino-American males: 17.1%
Chinese-American males: 16.4%

It is believed that in 1 of 7 deaths, smoking was a major contributing cause. Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death and disability.

Although lacking necessary funding in every area of operation, Los Angeles County agencies are currently spending $4.3 billion in tax money to pay for the costs of tobacco related diseases. Of this amount, the County is sinking $2.3 billion into direct health care expenditures.

Download the report here.

Reinhard Kargl

Journalist and media professional currently based in Los Angeles, California. Focusing on science and technology.