Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116574

Alyssa R. Grauman, MPH, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, 6130 Executive Blvd., EPN 4009A, MSC 7344, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301-594-6605, graumana@mail.nih.gov, Deirdre M. Lawrence, PhD, MPH, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 6130 Executive Blvd, MSC 7332, Executive Plaza North, Room 232, Bethesda, MD 20892-7332, Nathaniel Allen, Information Management Services, Inc., 12501 Prosperity Dr, Suite 200, Silver Spring, MD 20904, and William Davis, PhD, Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute, 6116 Executive Boulevard, Room 5047, Bethesda, MD 20893.

Tobacco and alcohol use are among the most modifiable risk factors associated with cancer and other chronic diseases. A growing body of literature suggests that lesbians, gays and bisexuals (LGB) may experience higher rates of smoking and drinking compared to their heterosexual counterparts. California Health Interview Survey (CHIS 2003, n=41,503, aged 18+) data were used to estimate prevalence rates and the odds of current tobacco, alcohol, and concurrent tobacco and any alcohol use by sexual orientation. There were 757 respondents who identified as homosexual and 485 who identified as bisexual. Among the men, bisexuals reported the highest rates of current smoking (37.0%) and concurrent use (25.1%) compared to homosexuals (20.4% and 15.8%, respectively) and heterosexuals (20.2% and 14.5%, respectively). Results for alcohol use over the past month were mixed with homosexual men reporting the highest rate of any alcohol consumption (75.1%), heterosexual men reporting the highest rate of binge drinking (36.0%) and bisexual men reporting the highest rate of heavy drinking (12.3%). Among the women, lesbians and bisexuals reported higher rates of current smoking (24.8% and 24.6% vs. 12.8%), any alcohol use (68.2% and 62.8% vs. 49.0%), binge drinking (18.9% and 25.1% vs. 13.8%), heavy drinking (2.5% and 6.3% vs. 1.9%), and concurrent use (16.7% and 19.0% vs. 7.5%) compared to heterosexuals. Results from multiple logistic regression analyses determining significant predictors of tobacco and alcohol use will be presented. Our findings indicate the need to further explore factors contributing to differential patterns of alcohol and tobacco use in LGB populations.

Learning Objectives:

• Explore patterns of tobacco and alcohol use among lesbians, gays, and bisexuals in California

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.