As a community, we have a lot to celebrate. With marriage equality and increased visibility for our transgender friends, we’ve had some big wins.
But the disproportionate toll that tobacco and vaping have on LGBTQ people threatens our progress.
Currently, there are more than 450 vaping products on the market.
And vaping companies don’t have to follow universal safety standards – or reveal the chemical ingredients used in products.1
Click the image to the left to learn more.In addition to nicotine, vaping aerosols can contain heavy metals, ultrafine particulate and cancer-causing agents.3 One chemical commonly found in vapor aerosol, diacetyl, can cause a fatal lung disease commonly known as “popcorn lung.”4
Doctors and public health experts urge caution when it comes to vaping. Too little is known to consider these products safe.
In fact, the smoking rate for all Coloradans decreased by nearly 5 percent from 2004 to 2014 – but the rate of smoking in our community remained the same.5
More than 30,000 members of our community die of tobacco-related illnesses every year.6
LGBTQ people spend $7.9 billion on cigarettes each year – 65 times more than LGBTQ-friendly organizations spend fighting for our equal rights.
In the meantime, smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined.
When you get help — like coaching and quit medications — you can quit for good. Nicotine patches, gum and varenicline tablets (Chantix) can help control cravings, upping your chances to stay tobacco-free.
Why are LGBTQ people so much more likely to use tobacco and vape? For the same reasons straight people do – stress, mostly.
But our stress is different. Most people can’t relate to the stress of being discriminated against. The stress of not being accepted by your family. The stress of being singled out for who you are.
But we know all about that.
He started smoking as a teenager. He wants to quit and he’s tried before, but he went back to smoking. That doesn’t mean he’s giving up.
It doesn’t help that smoking and vaping are rampant in our community.
When you’re out, it can feel like everyone is stepping outside to take a hit or have a smoke. When our friends and partners use tobacco products, it makes it so much harder to quit.
Most people have to try between five and seven times before they finally quit for good.7
You may not be used to asking for help. We didn’t get to where we are today without fighting every step along the way.
But nicotine is different. It’s one of the most addictive substances around.8
If you’ve tried to quit before, you’re in good company. Don’t give up! Be proud that you are trying again.