A CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) analysis of data from the 2009-2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey showed that with the exception of pipes, tobacco use was significantly higher among LGBT respondents when compared to the general population, according to a press release from Fenway Health.
The survey found that 32.8 percent of LGBT people nationally smoke cigarettes; 12.2 percent smoke cigars/cigarillos/small cigars; and 38.5 percent report using any tobacco. Among non-LGBT respondents, those rates fell to 19.5 percent for cigarettes; 6.6 percent for cigars/cigarillos/small cigars; and 25.2 percent for any tobacco use.
Scout, Ph.D., director of The Network for LGBT Health, said, "It's clearer than ever that tobacco use is one of the largest single health burdens on the LGBT community.
"On a daily level, this means smoking and secondhand smoke is taking our health and too often, our lives. I look forward to the day when every tobacco control program includes LGBT tailored work and every tobacco industry marketing program doesn't."