Community leaders to address tobacco’s disproportionate impact on Black communities
Tobacco-Free Living Summit on Feb. 19 to highlight prevention, policy and pathways to quitting
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 2, 2026
LAS VEGAS — The Southern Nevada Health District’s Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion will host the 3rd Annual Tobacco‑Free Living Summit through its Tobacco Control Program. The summit will address the detrimental effects of tobacco use within the Black community. To help reduce this burden, the Tobacco Control Program created Because We Matter LV, an African American-focused tobacco initiative, which guides the program’s efforts and serves as the foundation for this year’s event.
The summit will bring together community members, advocates and experts on Thursday, February 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Dr. William Pearson Community Center, 1625 W. Carey Ave., North Las Vegas, NV 89032. This free, public event will spotlight urgent issues shaping public health today, including the youth vaping epidemic, flavored tobacco products, tobacco control policies, and proven cessation resources. Held during Black History Month, the summit will also explore the disproportionate impact of tobacco use on Black communities and highlight actionable strategies to promote healthier, tobacco-free lives.
Smoking is a leading risk factor for chronic and life-threatening conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke, heart attack and lung cancer. In Clark County, Black adults experience a disproportionate burden of these smoking-related conditions.
In 2023, Black adults in Clark County had the second-highest smoking prevalence among racial and ethnic groups at 15.2%, according to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Only residents categorized as other race reported a higher prevalence, at 16.3%. That same year, 10.9% of Black adults in Clark County reported having COPD, emphysema or chronic bronchitis—the highest prevalence among all racial and ethnic groups in the county. Black adults also had the highest prevalence of stroke in 2023, at 4.4%.
The impact of smoking is also evident in mortality data. Between 2018 and 2022, Black adults in Clark County experienced one of the highest age-adjusted lung cancer death rates, at 33.4 deaths per 100,000 population, according to the National Cancer Institute. In 2022, Black adults also had the highest age-adjusted death rate from heart attack – 43.5 per 100,000 – based on data from the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network.
“The Tobacco-Free Living Summit is an important opportunity for our community to come together around one of the most preventable causes of disease and death,” said Dr. Cassius Lockett, District Health Officer for the Health District. “Smoking and tobacco use continue to have a profound impact on the health of individuals, families and our health care system. By sharing evidence-based strategies, amplifying local voices, and strengthening partnerships, this summit helps move us closer to a healthier, tobacco-free future for everyone.”
The summit features a variety of tobacco-related topics and speakers:
- Onjewel Smith, echo, LLC and American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation
Menthol tobacco and cultural exploitation
- Kayla Ramsey, Nevada Cancer Coalition
Lung cancer screening matters
- Dr. Karen Beard, Amplify! African American Statewide Coordinating Center
Moving beyond cessation
- DJ Yearwood, 2023 Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Youth Advocate of the Year
Protecting Black youth from vaping
- Tracy Truran, Health Plan of Nevada and Richard Davis, Dignity Health
Rapid-fire session: Nevada cessation programs and resources
Because We Matter LV is a smoking and vaping prevention initiative for African Americans in Clark County and is part of the Health District’s Tobacco Control Program. The initiative works to raise awareness, provide culturally relevant education, connect individuals to cessation resources and encourage healthier, smoke- and vape-free lives throughout the community.
Registration for the summit is now open; visit the 2026 Tobacco-Free Living Summit Registration page. Learn more about Because We Matter LV at becausewematterlv.org.
The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.