The $5 man: the underground economic response to a large cigarette tax increase in New York City.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the mechanisms by which living in a disadvantaged minority community influences smoking and illegal cigarette sale and purchasing behaviors after a large cigarette tax increase.


METHODS
Data were collected from 14 focus groups (n=104) that were conducted during the spring of 2003 among Blacks aged 18 years and older living in New York City.


RESULTS
A large tax increase led to what focus group participants described as a pervasive illegal cigarette market in a low-income minority community. Perceived pro-smoking community norms, a stressful social and economic environment, and the availability of illegal cigarettes worked together to reinforce smoking and undermine cessation.


CONCLUSIONS
Although interest in quitting was high, bootleggers created an environment in which reduced-price cigarettes were easier to access than cessation services. This activity continues to undermine the public health goals of the tax increase.
Shelley
Donna
D
Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10 032, USA. drs26@columbia.edu
Cantrell
M Jennifer
MJ
Moon-Howard
Joyce
J
Ramjohn
Destiny Q
DQ
VanDevanter
Nancy
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D003132:Commerce / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003415:Crime; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018803:Models, Economic; D009519:New York City; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011640:Public Policy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013660:Taxes / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000523:psychology