Dr. Christi Patton

So it is challenging in terms of kind of reducing the overall tobacco use prevalence. And right now, we have a program we're evaluating that is family-based, recognizing, and this was actually feedback from the pregnant women. One of the challenges because of the social norms is even if the woman would quit during pregnancy, a lot of people are using tobacco around her.

So it is challenging in terms of kind of reducing the overall tobacco use prevalence. And right now, we have a program we're evaluating that is family-based, recognizing, and this was actually feedback from the pregnant women. One of the challenges because of the social norms is even if the woman would quit during pregnancy, a lot of people are using tobacco around her.

So their spouse, family members. And so now we have a family-based program that we're evaluating at the request of pregnant women to focus more, not just on that woman, but those around her and really looking at the family system. So maybe if I come back in a couple of years, I can let you know how well that program worked. But what you bring up is really important.

So their spouse, family members. And so now we have a family-based program that we're evaluating at the request of pregnant women to focus more, not just on that woman, but those around her and really looking at the family system. So maybe if I come back in a couple of years, I can let you know how well that program worked. But what you bring up is really important.

The family system and quitting tobacco. recognizing that it's just not individual determinants to behavior change. It's, it's really these social and environmental influences that we need to target.

The family system and quitting tobacco. recognizing that it's just not individual determinants to behavior change. It's, it's really these social and environmental influences that we need to target.

Well, I think with cigarette smoking, for example, the pandemic did not help.

Well, I think with cigarette smoking, for example, the pandemic did not help.

Yeah. So it was actually a growth in cigarette sales during that time. And then people are reporting more anxiety during the pandemic. So I'm kind of stuck. There were reports of people stockpiling cigarettes during that time. Wow. So. I think that didn't really, if there was any decrease in some of these vices, it didn't help with the pandemic.

Yeah. So it was actually a growth in cigarette sales during that time. And then people are reporting more anxiety during the pandemic. So I'm kind of stuck. There were reports of people stockpiling cigarettes during that time. Wow. So. I think that didn't really, if there was any decrease in some of these vices, it didn't help with the pandemic.

Yeah, I mean, people report turning to different things to alleviate stress, one being cigarettes, alcohol. And as I mentioned, I mean, we do know from research that cigarette smokers report more stress. So there is that documented association as well. But I was just thinking about the pandemic, how that really shook things up for people.

Yeah, I mean, people report turning to different things to alleviate stress, one being cigarettes, alcohol. And as I mentioned, I mean, we do know from research that cigarette smokers report more stress. So there is that documented association as well. But I was just thinking about the pandemic, how that really shook things up for people.

So it'll be interesting to see what the new normal is going forward.

So it'll be interesting to see what the new normal is going forward.

Well, all right.

Well, all right.

I think going forward, what I found to be really meaningful work is the community engagement in Alaska to really listen to the voices of the community in terms of their needs and priorities. And that's helped us develop some programs, many effective, some not, but even with the not ones, the community has a voice in what's the next step, like the family-based intervention. So

I think going forward, what I found to be really meaningful work is the community engagement in Alaska to really listen to the voices of the community in terms of their needs and priorities. And that's helped us develop some programs, many effective, some not, but even with the not ones, the community has a voice in what's the next step, like the family-based intervention. So

I think about that, although I'm focusing on indigenous communities primarily, I think about that with these other segments like youth and communities targeted more by the tobacco industry, communities with high tobacco prevalence. So I would encourage people, especially researchers, to think about community participatory research and how that might be helpful with the tobacco endgame.

I think about that, although I'm focusing on indigenous communities primarily, I think about that with these other segments like youth and communities targeted more by the tobacco industry, communities with high tobacco prevalence. So I would encourage people, especially researchers, to think about community participatory research and how that might be helpful with the tobacco endgame.