Addressing tobacco use disparities among LGBT populations: A report by the American Lung Association

Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) population is believed to have one of the highest prevalence rates in the country. Despite growing evidence of this inequity, tobacco surveillance instruments typically omit questions about LGBT status and thus stymie efforts to quantify and ultimately address this disparity. As part of a series that aims to highlight issues contributing to health disparities, the American Lung Association prepared a comprehensive report focusing on tobacco use in the LGBT population. It has been suspected for years that there was a notably higher rate of smoking in the LGBT community, but it was not until recently that studies were conducted to prove such a disparity existed. A growing body of research is finding a myriad of causes behind the disproportionately high smoking rate among LGBTs. These include societal pressure, ubiquity of tobacco use within LGBT settings and culture and tobacco industry marketing targeted at LGBT's. This presentation will introduce the evidence, gaps and needs in the effort to reduce tobacco use among LGBTs. It will also include specific recommendations the American Lung Association believes can have a significant effect in the reduction of this disparity.