Smoking is the most preventable cause of death in our society. Tobacco use is responsible for nearly one in five deaths in the United States. Although the number of cardiovascular deaths is declining, smoking-related cancer deaths continue to rise. Since 1987, more women have died each year from lung cancer than breast cancer, which was the major cause of cancer death in women for over 40 years. Approximately half of all continuing smokers die prematurely from smoking. Of these, approximately half die in middle age (35-69), losing an average of 20 to 25 years of life expectancy.

In addition to being responsible for 87% of lung cancers, smoking is also associated with cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, pancreas, uterine cervix, kidney, and bladder. Smoking accounts for at least 29% of all cancer deaths, is a major cause of heart disease (heart attack, stroke, arteriosclerosis), and is associated with conditions ranging from colds and gastric ulcers to chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and cerebrovascular disease.

Although no large scale study of the prevalence of GLBT tobacco use has been conducted, current evidence suggests that sexual minority people do smoke more than heterosexuals.

• A 1999 household-based survey found that 41.5% of gay and bisexual men reported smoking, a rate far in excess of the overall national rate for men of 28.6%.
• Data from the 1998 Women's Health Initiative indicate that about twice as many lesbians as heterosexual women reported being "heavy" smokers (6.8-7.4% of lesbians and 3.5% of heterosexual women). Although almost 50% of the heterosexual women reported never smoking, only 25-33% of lesbians reported never smoking.
• According to the 1988 National Lesbian Survey, the rate of smoking among lesbians increases with age, whereas rates of smoking among women in the general population decline with age.
• The 1997 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 8th to 12th grade students who had had sex with someone of their own gender were significantly more likely than those who had had sex only with people of the other gender to have smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days (64% vs. 55%).

It is important to note that the tobacco industry has begun marketing cigarettes specifically to lesbian and gay people in the last decade, following a 35% decline in sales of tobacco between 1973 and 1991.

Click here to read about GLBT health studies.

After...
20 minutes	...Blood pressure drops to near the level before you had your last cigarette.
8 hours	...Carbon monoxide level in the blood drops to normal.
24 hours	...Chance of heart attack decreases.
2 weeks to 3 months	...Circulation improves. Lung function increases up to 30%.
1 year	...Chance of heart attack is cut in half.
5 years	...Stroke risk is reduced to levels of a non-smoker's.
10 years	...Risk of dying from lung cancer is about half of a current smoker.

Five key steps for quitting

Studies have shown that these five steps will help you quit and quit for good. You have the best chance of quitting if you use these five steps to develop and maintain your own quit plan.

1.	Get ready Make a plan
	Set a quit date. Change your environment. (Get rid of your cigarettes and don't let people smoke in your home or car.) Review your past quit attempts. Think about what worked and what didn't. Make a list of reasons to quit. Once you quit don't smoke--not even a puff!
2.	Get support You will have a better chance of success if you have help. You can get help in many ways
	Tell family, friends and coworkers that you are going to quit and want their support. Ask them not to smoke around you. Ask them if they want to quit with you. Talk to your health care provider; they can help. Get individual, group or telephone counseling. For adults, call the Washington Tobacco Quitline: 1-877-270-7867 1-877-2NO Fume (Spanish) TTY 1-877-777-6534 Visit the Washington Tobacco Quitline's website at: www.quitline.com For Teens, call the Alcohol/Drug Helpline: 1-800-563-1240 1-260-722-4222
3.	Learn new skills and behaviors Change your routine to reduce your stress
	Try to distract yourself from urges to smoke. Talk to someone, go for a walk, or find a new hobby. When you try to quit, change your routine. Use a different route to work. Drink tea instead of coffee. Eat breakfast in a different place. Do something to reduce your stress. Take a hot bath/shower, exercise, read a book, call a friend, or go to a movie. Plan something enjoyable to do every day. Reward yourself since you are doing a good thing for yourself and those around you. Drink a lot of water and other fluids.
4.	Get medication and use it correctly Ask your health care provider for advice first
	Medications can help you stop smoking and lessen the urge to smoke. Ask your health care provider for advice and carefully follow the instructions on the package. Approved medications can double your chances of quitting for good. Everyone who is trying to quit may benefit from using a medication. If you are pregnant, nursing, under 18 years of age, smoking fewer than 10 cigarettes per day, or have a medical condition, talk to your doctor or other health care provider. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved five medications to help you quit. Bupropion SR - available by prescription Nicotine gum - available over-the-counter Nicotine inhaler - available by prescription Nicotine nasal spray - available by prescription Nicotine patch - available over-the-counter and by prescription
5.	Be prepared for difficult situations or relapse Don't give up!
	Most relapses occur within the first three months after quitting. Don't be discouraged if you start smoking again. Remember that most people try several times before they finally quit for good. Here are some difficult situations to watch for. Alcohol. Avoid drinking alcohol. Drinking lowers your chance of success. Other smokers. Being around smoking can make you want to smoke. Weight gain. Many smokers will gain weight when they quit, usually less than 10 pounds. Eat a healthy diet and stay active. Don't let the weight gain distract you from your goal-quitting smoking. Bad mood or depression. There are lots of ways to improve your mood other than smoking. If you are having problems with any of these situations, talk to your health care provider. Don't give up.