MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – City of Milwaukee Health Commissioner Jeanette Kowalik met with members of the Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network on Friday.

According to the state health department, 28 percent of African Americans smoke.

Experts said that’s almost twice the state average.

“The biggest issue is the way the tobacco industry is targeting African Americans in low income communities,” said Lorraine Lathen with the Wisconsin African-American Tobacco Prevention Network. “If you’ve seen all of the promotions all the time for the products, you’re going to be curious, you’re going to want to try.”

The leading causes of death among African Americans include cancer, strokes and heart disease. Tobacco use is linked to all of those conditions.

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