Do you know that LGBT people are more likely to smoke than most any other population group in the United States? Being around other smokers can make it more difficult for people in our communities to quit. But many of us are trying, and better information on how to quit and stay quit can help. The following points are taken from a variety of materials, with specific focus on this might be different for us.

Learn how we have been affected by tobacco use...

• LGBT are 40-70% more likely to smoke than non-LGBT. This is one of the highest smoking rates, even out of all the disproportionately affected sub-populations.
• LGBT adolescents are taking up smoking at an alarming rate. In a recent national study 45% of females and 35% of males who reported same-sex attraction or behavior smoked. In comparison, only 29% of the rest of the youth smoked.

Learn how our communities have been successfully targeted by tobacco companies...

• Tobacco companies offer an unknown amount of financial support to LGBT festivals, bars, media, and local organizations. As early supporters of LGBT causes, the Tobacco companies garnered appreciative community response, since many other funders avoided LGBT issues.
• They may target us, but they don’t respect us. An early Tobacco industry document described a plan for increasing sales among San Francisco's gay and homeless populations. It was titled "Project SCUM".
• Tobacco industry funding can compromise anti-tobacco activities by LGBT community organizations. For example, while major TV networks refused to air an ad exposing "Project SCUM", it was hard for GLAAD to fight back, because they were taking tobacco industry money in support of their annual gala.

Learn how social support affects us...

• With more people smoking in our communities, we're more likely to have smokers around us - and this can make it harder to stop.
• Our friends are especially important, and the social support they provide offsets stress we experience as a result of being LGBT.
• Support from your friends or family can help a lot when you try to quit. But guilt doesn’t! See the box at the end for tips on how they can give you guilt-free support.

Learn how quitting smoking is a process...

• In any given year, 70% of all smokers try to quit. But it rarely happens their first time; most people try 7-8 times before they succeed at quitting.
• Be gentle on yourself as you start this process. It’s been proven that every single quit attempt moves you closer to a final success! The longer it lasts, the more it helps.

Learn how deep this habit goes...

• A piece of quitting smoking is about fighting the addiction, another piece is about changing a deeply engrained habit. This can affect many different (sometimes unexpected) parts of your life.
• Think about this: the only thing an average smoker does more than smoke... is blink!

Now, learn about the best recipe for success...

• You are most likely to quit smoking if you combine three strategies (like combination therapy for tobacco!)
• First, talk to your doctor about your smoking and see if you are able to take a prescription medication that can help, like Zyban (also called Wellbutrin), nicotine inhaler and nicotine nasal spray.
• Second, plan to take a type of nicotine replacement therapy, like the patch, gum or lozenge. And new evidence shows we shouldn't dial down the doses of this stuff as fast as previously thought, stay higher if needed. Also know that you can combine these therapies, but check with your health care provider first.
• Third, enroll in some type of stop smoking support program, like a group, individual counseling, or website. Call your state smoking Quitline for local resources at 1-800-QUITNOW, or a local LGBT community center. These programs help you with valuable skills (like learning your smoking triggers) and immediate social support.
• Continue to be gentle with yourself. If you begin smoking again, think about how each quit attempt brings you closer to final success. So, don't get discouraged, just regroup and start again.