Systemic inequities have led to greater exposure to home indoor environmental hazards such as secondhand tobacco smoke, mold, and pests among low-income children.

My co-authors and I recently published an article in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice that examines disparities in marijuana and tobacco smoke incursions during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when children were spending most of their time inside their homes. In “Disparities in Marijuana and Tobacco Smoke Incursions Among New York City Families During Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” we found that children in public housing experience significantly more marijuana and tobacco incursions and spent significantly more time inside their homes compared to children in private housing. Our results highlight the need for better enforcement of the Smoke-Free Public Housing Rule for Public Housing Authorities and the need for additional public health policies to protect children from secondhand marijuana smoke, especially given the increasing number of states that have legalized marijuana. The article provides actionable data to inform public health policies and programs on topics that are well-established (tobacco incursions) and emerging (marijuana incursions), and highlighting strategies to address health disparities.

The following infographic summarizes key takeaways from our study. Download it by clicking the image or this link: Infographic_Marijuana & Tobacco Smoke Incursions in NYC Housing During the PandemicTo learn more, read our article in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice:

• Disparities in Marijuana and Tobacco Smoke Incursions Among New York City Families During Early Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic