Alright, let's rip off the band-aid: Sapphics smoke at significantly higher rates than straight women. Recent national studies have found that while only 10-15% of heterosexual women smoke cigarettes, between 22 and 30% of lesbian and bisexual women do. And vaping? Yeah, we're leading in that too. But why?

- Stress from discrimination and coming out

- The historical importance of bars in queer culture

- Targeted marketing by tobacco companies (more on that in a sec)

- Using smoking as a coping mechanism for anxiety or depression

Health Risks: The Real Tea

I know, I know. We've all heard smoking is bad. But let's break down why it's particularly risky for us:

- Higher rates of certain cancers

- Increased risk of heart disease

- Fertility issues (important if you're thinking about having kids)

- Complications with hormone therapy for our trans siblings

And vaping? While it might seem like a "safer" alternative, it comes with its own set of risks, including lung injury, cardiovascular problems, weakened immune system, nicotine addiction, and exposure to harmful chemicals that we don’t even know the long-term effects of yet!

Big Tobacco's Queer Marketing Scheme

Here's where it gets really messed up. Tobacco companies have been specifically targeting the LGBTQ+ community for decades. They've:

- Sponsored Pride events

- Advertised heavily in queer publications

- Positioned smoking as a form of rebellion and freedom

Essentially, they've tried to make smoking seem like part of our queer identity. Not cool, Big Tobacco. Not cool at all.

A Major Drag on your Wallet 

Ever done the math here? The average cost of a single pack of cigarettes in New York State is $12.85. Crunching the numbers reveals that a pack-a-day sapphic smoker spends $4,690 per year. Think about all the fun things you could be buying with that money instead! 

Over 50 years, the average cost of smoking climbs to $234,512. For comparison, the estimated cost of raising a child until age 18 is $250,000!

There is also the increased cost of medical care. Not only does it impact your health, which is costly in itself, but medical care costs for chronic lung and heart disease are not cheap and insurance premiums for smokers are about 15-20% higher than for non-smokers.

Ready to Quit? Let's Do This!

If you're thinking about quitting (go you!), here are some strategies tailored for our community:

1. Nicotine Replacement Therapy: Patches, gum, or lozenges can help manage cravings. If you’re a student or employee, many student and employee health programs provide free supplies - make sure to check with them, your insurance, and your doctor!  Your doctor might have tips for tapering off patches. 

2. Medications: Talk to your doctor about prescription options like Chantix, Zyban, or Wellbutrin.

3. Counseling & Support Groups: Look for LGBTQ+-friendly cessation programs and support groups. Many offer online or phone support. 

Definitely check out: 

• The National LGBT Cancer Network (https://cancer-network.org/outlast-tobacco/) offers tailored smoking cessation resources and even free nicotine replacement therapy products (https://cancer-network.org/outlast-tobacco/).

• This Free Life (thisfreelife.betobaccofree.hhs.gov) is an FDA campaign with queer-specific quitting tools. 

• SmokefreeWomen (https://women.smokefree.gov/) offers free online chats with cessation counselors, help with creating quit plans, and text-messaging programs to support you at quit time.

• Your local LGBTQ+ community center, which might offer their own smoking cessation programs and resources

5. Stress Management: Changing any behavior is hard! Have you ever tried to just wake up a bit earlier or stop snoozing? Take care of yourself and plan ahead - break out some of your go-to stress-busters, like time with friends, meditation, exercise, or art.

Remember, quitting is a journey, and it might take a few tries. That's okay! Don’t get discouraged! Each attempt brings you closer to success.

Wrapping It Up

Listen, we get it. Quitting smoking or vaping is tough. But you know what's tougher? Us. We've faced discrimination, fought for our rights, and created beautiful, supportive communities. We can definitely kick this habit too.

By quitting, you're not just improving your own health – you're helping to break the cycle of tobacco use in our community. Plus, think of all the money you'll save for cute outfits or concert tickets!