Cigarette smoking among gay, lesbian, and bisexual residents of the Inland Empire, California

Research indicates higher smoking rates in sexual minorities and increased marketing to this population by tobacco companies. Furthermore, there is some evidence that fewer gay men quit smoking with more quit attempts than the general population. The Inland Empire region of California is part of the Greater Los Angeles area and includes Riverside County and San Bernardino County. It is estimated that 2.4% of the adult population ages 18 to 70 years, residing in the Inland Empire self-identifies as gay, lesbian, or bisexual (GLB). Of the approximately 57,000 GLB Inland Empire adult residents, 20% currently smoke.

Following examples set by recent published research, and using data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), current and past smoking rates of GLB residents of the Inland Empire were compared with rates for Inland Empire heterosexual residents and rates for both groups statewide. Similar to California, the data indicate higher current and lifetime smoking rates among GLB men and women in the Inland Empire. Inland Empire youth and adult LGBT agencies used the results of this study to customize health education materials and messages. Future research into possible connections between stress, alcohol consumption, predominantly bar-centered GLB socialization, and cigarette smoking may provide better understanding of the elevated smoking rates in the GLB community and inform cessation and prevention interventions targeted to this underserved population.