Commercial Tobacco Use and the LGBTQIA+ Population
Reclaim Your Power by Quitting Tobacco and Nicotine Products.
Quitting smoking or vaping is one of the hardest things you can do.
This no-judgment space is for people, communities and organizations interested in:
- Learning about commercial tobacco use in North Carolina's LGBTQIA+ population.
- Resources for getting help to quit tobacco.
Why quit now? Consider your past, present and future self.
Who were you?
Think about when you started smoking or vaping. Did it help you deal with being different, feel accepted, or ease stress? LGBTQIA+ people are more likely to experience bullying or abuse and use tobacco to cope.
Who are you now?
Are you irritated or anxious when you aren’t smoking or vaping?
Did you know nicotine can worsen anxiety symptoms and depression? After quitting, people report feeling less stressed, anxious and depressed, and more in control.
Riley's Story
Who will you be?
If you weren’t tied to tobacco, who could you be? What would you be able to do? What could you do with the money you spend on tobacco products? Can you see a beautiful, tobacco-free future you?
Living with mental health challenges? Get extra support on your journey to quit.
Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)
Or text "Ready" to 34191
Here's what you should know.
Tobacco companies know from market research that vulnerable communities use more tobacco products.
For decades, tobacco companies have targeted marketing campaigns toward LGBTQIA+ communities. These campaigns often position the brand like a friend to increase sales.
How companies target LGBTQIA+ communities:
- Donating to causes like HIV/AIDS research.
- Sponsoring Pride events.
- Free giveaways and coupons at LGBTQIA+ bars and clubs.
- Creating targeted advertising and products using themes of “freedom,” “pride,” “choice” and rebelliousness.
- Social media/online targeting.
- Promoting menthol cigarettes. Menthols are easier to start, more addictive, and more difficult to quit.
more likely to smoke
23% of LGBTQIA+ North Carolinians smoke; 15.5% of the general population smokes.
In North Carolina, LGBTQIA+ people are:
- Two times more likely to try e-cigarettes (40%) than the general population (18.6%).
- Four times more likely to use e-cigarettes (17.6%) than the general population (4.5%).
Nationally, LGBTQ+ youth are using more tobacco and nicotine products:
- LGB middle school students use tobacco products three times more than heterosexual youth.
- 17.4% of LGB high school students currently use tobacco, compared to 11.4% of other high schoolers.
- One in five LGB middle and high school students use e-cigarettes, compared to about one in eight heterosexual students.
| Time after Quitting | Physical Health Changes |
|---|---|
| 20 minutes | Heart rate returns to normal. |
| 12-24 hours | Carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal. Significantly reduced risk of a heart attack. |
| Two weeks to three months | Heart attack risk continues to drop. Lung function begins to improve. |
| One to nine months | Decreased coughing and shortness of breath. |
| One year | Risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker. |
| Five to 15 years | Risk of stroke reduced to that of a nonsmoker. Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat or esophagus is half that of a smoker. |
| 10 years | Risks of bladder cancer or dying from lung cancer is about half that of a smoker. Decreased risk of cervical cancer or cancer of the larynx, kidney or pancreas. |
| 15 years | Risk of coronary heart disease is the same as that of a nonsmoker. |
Join Us in Community-Led Change
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services works with LGBTQIA+ organizations to provide smoking/vaping cessation tools.
Become a partner. Contact us:
Juliana Wilson
Gender and Sexual Minority Tobacco Treatment Coordinator
juliana.wilson@dhhs.nc.gov
Help make our communities healthier today to ensure their future tomorrow.
"Commercial tobacco" on this page refers to products made and sold by tobacco companies. It does not include "traditional tobacco" used for religious or ceremonial purposes.
"LGBTQIA+" on this page refers to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, or asexual. The "+" refers to people who hold other gender/sex/romantic identities.