LGBTQ Coloradans are way more likely to smoke and vape compared to cis/heterosexual people.
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.
Here’s the good news.
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.