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Tobacco Use
By Joanna Sickler
Education and outreach geared to the lesbian
population needs to be formulated and implemented. Interventions
need to target high-risk groups such as poor lesbians1 and
those who experience high levels of stress.2
 Talking Points:
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Data varies but there is
ample evidence that lesbians smoke at a significantly higher rate than
heterosexual women. For example
the Women’s Health Initiative indicates that twice as many lesbians were
reported to be heavy smokers compared to heterosexual women (6.8% of
heterosexual women and 7.4% of mature lesbians versus 3.5% of heterosexual
women).3
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Smoking increases lesbians’ risk
for cancer and cardiovascular disease.4
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This increased rate has been attributed to the higher levels of psychosocial
stress that lesbians experience but the issue warrants further study.2
-
Krieger,
N., Rowley, D., Herman, A., Avery B., & Phillips, M. (1993). Racism, sexism, and social class: Implications for studies of health, disease and well-being. American
Journal of Preventative Medicine, 9(6,suppl), 82-122.
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Borrelli,
B.; Bock, T.; et al. (1996). The impact of depression
on smoking cessation in women. American Journal
of Preventative Medicine, 12(5), 378-387.
-
Solarz, A. (ed). (1999). Lesbian health: current assessment and directions for the future. Committee on lesbian health research priorities, the Institute of Medicine. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, p56-57.
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Chen, V.W. (1993). Smoking and the health gap in minorities. Annals of Epidemiology, 3(2), 159-164.
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