Tobacco & Smoking
Smoking kills more LGBTIQ people than hate
crimes, suicide, and AIDS combined.
Smoking is the most
preventable cause of death in our society.
Tobacco use is
responsible for nearly one in five deaths in the United
States. Although the number of cardiovascular deaths is
declining, smoking-related cancer deaths continue to rise.
Since 1987, more women have died each year from lung cancer
than breast cancer, which was the major cause of cancer death
in women for over 40 years.
Approximately half of all
continuing smokers die prematurely from smoking. Of these,
approximately half die in middle age (35-69), losing an
average of 20 to 25 years of life expectancy.
In addition to being responsible for 87% of
lung cancers, smoking is also associated with cancers of the
mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, uterine, cervix,
kidney, and bladder. Smoking accounts for at least 29% of all
cancer deaths, is a major cause of heart disease (heart
attack, stroke, arteriosclerosis), and is associated with
conditions ranging from colds and gastric ulcers to chronic
bronchitis, emphysema, and cerebrovascular disease.
Do gay, lesbian, and bisexual people smoke
more than heterosexuals?
Although no large scale study of the
prevalence of LGBTIQ tobacco use has been conducted, current
evidence suggests that sexual minority people do smoke more
than heterosexuals.
The 2003 Boulder County Youth Risk Behavior
Survey found that 35.7% of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth
were daily smokers, compared to only 10% of their heterosexual
counterparts:
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A 1999 household-based survey found that 41.5% of gay and
bisexual men reported smoking, a rate far in excess of the
overall national rate for men of 28.6%.
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Data from the 1998 Women's Health Initiative indicate that
about twice as many lesbians as heterosexual women reported
being "heavy" smokers (6.8-7.4% of lesbians and 3.5% of
heterosexual women). Although almost 50% of the heterosexual
women reported never smoking, only 25-33% of lesbians reported
never smoking.
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According to the 1988 National Lesbian Survey, the rate of
smoking among lesbians increases with age, whereas rates of
smoking among women in the general population decline with
age.
It is important to note that the tobacco
industry has begun marketing cigarettes specifically to
lesbian and gay people in the last decade, following a 35%
decline in sales of tobacco between 1973 and 1991.
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Health benefits of quitting
After...
20 minutes ...Blood pressure drops to nearly the
same level as before
you had your last cigarette.
8 hours ... Carbon monoxide level in the blood drops to normal.
24 hours ... Chance of heart attack decreases.
2 weeks to
3 months ... Circulation improves. Lung function increases up
to 30%.
1 year ... Chance of heart attack is cut in half.
5 years ... Stroke risk is reduced to levels of a non-smoker.
10 years ... Risk of dying from lung cancer is about half of a
current smoker.
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Five key steps for quitting
Studies have shown that these five steps will help you quit
smoking and quit for good. You have the best chance of quitting if you
use these five steps to develop and maintain your own quit
plan. 1. Get ready/make a plan.
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Set a quit date.
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Change your environment. (Get rid of your cigarettes and
don't let people smoke in your home or car.)
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Review your past quit attempts. Think about what worked and
what didn't.
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Make a list of reasons to quit.
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Once you quit, don't smoke — not even a puff!
2. Get support.
You will have a better chance of success if you have help. You
can get help in many ways:
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Tell family, friends, and coworkers that you are going to
quit and that you want their support. Ask them not to smoke around you.
Ask them if they want to quit with you.
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Talk to your health care provider; they can help.
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Get individual, group, or telephone counseling.
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Contact Boulder County Public Health’s Tobacco Education and
Prevention Partnership (TEPP). TEPP offers free, private
“Getting Ready to Quit” sessions in Boulder and Longmont.
You
can learn about nicotine addiction, quitting strategies, and
free or low-cost tobacco cessation resources in a safe and
inclusive environment.
Call (303) 413-7544 to schedule an
appointment.
3. Learn new skills and behaviors.
Change your routine to reduce your stress. For
example:
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Try to distract yourself from urges to smoke. Talk to
someone, go for a walk, or find a new hobby.
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When you try to quit, change your routine. Use a different
route to work.
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Drink tea instead of coffee. Eat breakfast in a
different place.
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Do something to reduce your stress. Take a hot bath/shower,
exercise, read a book, call a friend, or go to a movie.
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Plan something enjoyable to do every day. Reward yourself
since you are doing a good thing for yourself and those around
you.
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Drink a lot of water and other fluids.
4. Get medication and use it correctly.
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Medications can help you stop smoking and lessen the urge to
smoke. Ask your health care provider for advice first.
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Ask your health care provider for advice and carefully
follow their instructions.
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Approved medications can double your chances of quitting for
good.
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Everyone who is trying to quit may benefit from using a
medication. If you are pregnant, nursing, under 18 years of
age, smoking fewer than 10 cigarettes per day, or have a
medical condition, talk to your doctor or other health care
provider.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved
five medications to help you quit.
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Bupropion SR - available by prescription.
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Nicotine gum - available over-the-counter.
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Nicotine inhaler - available by prescription.
Nicotine nasal spray - available by prescription.
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Nicotine patch - available over-the-counter and by
prescription.
5. Be prepared for difficult situations or relapse.
Don't give up! Most relapses occur within the first three months after
quitting. Don't be discouraged if you start smoking again.
Remember that most people try several times before they
finally quit for good. Here are some difficult situations to
watch for.
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Alcohol. Avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking lowers your chance
of success.
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Other smokers. Being around smoking can make you want to
smoke.
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Weight gain. Many smokers will gain weight when they quit,
usually less than 10 pounds. Eat a healthy diet and stay
active. Don't let the weight gain distract you from your
goal of quitting smoking.
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Bad mood or depression. There are lots of ways to improve
your mood other than smoking.
If you are having problems with any of these situations,
talk to your health care provider. Don't give up!
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Q & A
Do gay, lesbian, and bisexual people smoke
more than heterosexuals?
Health benefits of quitting
Five key steps for quitting
Related Pages
Tobacco
Education & Prevention Partnership
Quit Smoking
Resources
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