Tobacco

 

Introduction

According to the American Lung Association, cigarette smoking (and other forms of tobacco use) is one of the biggest preventable causes of fatal diseases worldwide.  These diseases claim an estimated 438,000 American lives each year, including those who smoke or use tobacco products and those exposed to “secondhand” smoke.  Smoking costs the United States over $167 billion a year, including $75.5 billion in medical costs.

 

The most frequently used tobacco products are cigarettes and cigars, both of which are smoked.  There is also smokeless tobacco – which is not considered to be a safe alternative for smoking – including chewing tobacco and snuff.

 

Most smokers and tobacco users want to quit or have tried to quit in the past.  It's not easy, but can be done.  In fact, each attempt at quitting brings you closer to being finally successful.

 

The Bad

Tobacco-related health problems include lung disease and cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and numerous other conditions.  Besides, it stinks, makes your teeth gross, and it's expensive.  Tobacco is one of the most highly addictive substances around, due to the nicotine level (the addictive part).  And cigarette makers have been putting more and more nicotine in cigarettes over the last ten years to get you hooked and keep you hooked.

 

Studies also suggest that cigarette smokers are at a higher risk of HIV infection.

 

 

The Good

Quitting smoking is hard . . . Really hard.  But millions of people have quit.  And even cutting down is helpful, and may be the first step to successfully quitting. Here's a look at the benefits:

 

  • You'll breathe more easily
  • Your sense of taste and smell will improve
  • You may have more energy
  •

You'll save money

  • Your health risks will go down (the risk of heart disease is reduced almost immediately)
  • You'll have more confidence
  •

Others won't be harmed by your smoking

 

And there are now lots of tools to assist you to stop.

Why its LGBT

According to the National Coalition for LGBT Health, LGBTs are 40% to 70% more likely to smoke than non-LGBTs.  Studies have also found smoking rates among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth to be between 8% and 59%, compared to rates of 28% to 35% in the general youth population.  As for transgender smoking, one study found that 50% of transgender clients at the University of Minnesota receiving hormone therapy were current or past smokers, and the rate of current smokers was almost double the rate in the general population.

 

Tobacco companies know about the increased use of tobacco products in the LGBT population and spend lots of money promoting their products in LGBT communities.  Although many LGBT smokers know that smoking and tobacco use increases their health risks, fewer have made attempts to quit as compared to straight adults.

 

What to Do

  • Decide you want to quit.  Nobody can do this for you, but once you decide to quit, realize that you can do it.  Also know that there are a lot of support programs and tools out there to help you quit.
  • Set a quit date.  Mark it on your calendar, and let family and friends know so that they can support you.
  • Get support.  Talk to someone who supports your effort to quit.  This can be a trained counselor, member of a smoking cessation program, hotline worker, healthcare provider, friend, or family member.  It really does help.
  • Not ready to quit? Smokers can reduce their consumption of tobacco products by alternating between tobacco and nicotine replacement products (see “Tools” below).  By doing this, you might eventually quit altogether.
  • Withdrawal symptoms.  Nicotine addiction can cause withdrawal symptoms once tobacco use is stopped.  These include cravings, headaches, coughing, moodiness, and tiredness.  Cravings begin to go away in just a few minutes, and become less intense in a couple of days.  Eventually, they should disappear.  For those who have a very difficult time with withdrawal symptoms, nicotine replacement products can help.
  • Gaining weight.  Some people do gain a little weight.  Don't freak out, because the benefits of quitting are greater than the drawbacks of a few extra pounds.  You can also do things to cut the risk of weight gain, like drinking lot of water, adding healthier snacks, and keeping fit (more cardio exercise).

 

Tools

  • Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).  There are a number of healthcare products – most are available without a prescription – that can be used to avoid nicotine withdrawal symptoms without smoking.  These include the patch (e.g., Nicoderm and less expensive generic products), gum (e.g., Nicotrol and generic products), lozenges, nasal sprays, and inhalers.  These products supply nicotine to the bloodstream, without the harmful ingredients found in cigarettes. 
  • Oral medications.  Zyban (also known as Wellbutrin or bupropion) or Chantix (varenicline).  These medications are taken orally every day.  They have both been shown, in clinical trials, to reduce the urge to smoke and to help manage withdrawal symptoms. 
  • Acupuncture andHypnosis:  These techniques have been shown to help people stop smoking.  However, there is not enough evidence from scientific studies to convince the scientific community that they really do work.  They may be most successful when used with other tools, such as nicotine replacement therapy. 

 

There are a number of smoking cessation services available to LGBT smokers and tobacco users.  These include:

  • IQuit.  This is an Internet-based smoking cessation program for LGBT community members run by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco.
  • Gay American Smoke Out:  The Seattle-based Gay American Smoke Out provides an opportunity for LGBTs to challenge themselves to quit smoking.  It is also an opportunity for LGBT organizations to provide resources for quitting and host fun events to raise awareness about tobacco use.
  • NJ QuitNet:This website, developed by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDOH), is program designed to help NJ residents quit smoking.   New Jersey-based support services are listed.  A toll-free telephone hotline is also maintained by NJDOH: 1-866-NJ-STOPS.
  • The LGBT SmokeFree Project.  The LGBT Community Center in New York hosts a series or workshops for smokers who are ready to quit or are thinking about stopping.  These include the “Not Quite Ready to Quit” and “Commit to Quit” workshop series.