Black and Hispanic U.S. smokers are less likely than white smokers to try nicotine replacement therapy such as patches or gum when they’re trying to quit smoking, a new U.S. Veterans Health Administration study shows.

Among the more than 1,600 male smokers treated at VA Centers in Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada and Texas, 50 percent of whites said they’d tried nicotine replacement therapy, compared with 34 percent of blacks and 26 percent of Hispanics.

The researchers noted the study volunteers all currently receive medical care and prescription drugs at little or no cost.