A recent report by the U.S. Surgeon General has highlighted a striking difference in vaping habits between LGBTQ+ people and their straight counterparts. Covering data from the years 2019 to 2021, the extensive 837-page document reveals that 37.8% of LGBTQ+ people have reported using vaping products, a marked contrast to the 16.5% of straights who have vaped.
The report takes on board a broad category of electronic smoking devices, which includes e-cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes, e-hookahs, vaping pens, and hookah pens. Delving deeper into the demographics of the LGBTQ+ community, the findings indicate that approximately 32% of gay men, 27% of lesbians, and a significant 47% of bisexual individuals have vaped at some point in their lives.
Kristy Marynak, a senior science adviser at the Centers for Disease Control and a co-editor of the report, commented on the implications of tobacco use within the LGBTQ+ community, describing it as a “singular health threat”. Speaking to NBC News, she emphasised the severe impact tobacco has, stating, “This report finds that nearly 1 in 5 of all deaths in the United States are caused by tobacco,” and underscored the disproportionate burden that falls on specific communities, notably queer and trans individuals.
The American Lung Association (ALA) has identified multiple health risks associated with e-cigarette usage. Among these are harmful chemicals such as acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde, which have been linked to lung and heart disease. The ALA also pointed out the dangers posed by secondhand e-cigarette smoke, with both the U.S. Surgeon General and the National Academies of Sciences voicing concerns over its risks.
Nicotine, a common ingredient in e-cigarettes, presents its own risks, specifically concerning its addictive nature and potential to impair brain development in individuals under the age of 25, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The report goes on to investigate the factors contributing to the high rates of tobacco use, including a 2014 survey that revealed LGBTQ+ youth in areas with substantial structural stigma — characterised by inadequate protective policies and limited social support in schools — showed an increased propensity to smoke compared to those in less stigmatized environments. It was noted in the report, “Residing in a state with a higher structural stigma score was a unique risk factor for smoking among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth; their heterosexual counterparts residing in states with high levels of structural stigma were no more likely to smoke than those living in states with low levels of structural stigma.”
The report also referenced Project SCUM, a marketing initiative from the 1990s, which aimed to promote smoking within San Francisco's LGBTQ+ community and among individuals facing homelessness.
While there was limited specific data regarding vaping habits among transgender individuals, the report incorporated findings from the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey, which indicated that transgender youth used tobacco at higher rates than cisgender youths, with figures showing 37.9% compared to 23.4%.
As the discussions around health and the LGBTQ+ community continue to evolve, the findings of this report highlight the specific vulnerabilities and challenges faced by these populations regarding tobacco usage and its repercussions.
Source: Noah Wire Services