Pride Guide 2007 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE B-13

We can break our toxic relationship with tobacco

by Joyce Swetlick

The national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered population has fallen prey to a toxic relationship. Instead of a healthy one with another person, this relationship is with tobacco.

This June, it's time to break tobacco's hold on Ohio's LGBT population, starting with your local Pride festival.

Why is tobacco addiction such a concern for the LGBT community? For starters, gay men and lesbians have the highest smoking rate of any minority at 36 percent. The American Legacy Foundation cites stress as the number one reason we use tobacco more than others. As a group, we're also more likely to smoke due to increased substance abuse rates and reduced access to health care. Most importantly, the tobacco industry has chosen LGBT people as one of its most precious targets for advertising.

Because of my own history of tobacco use, I understand both desire to quit and the difficulty of doing so. I quit hundreds of times-sometimes just for a day or two and once for nine months. Strong cravings, stress, and even misguided friends, who tired of hearing about one more quit attempt and

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would offer me a cigarette, drove me right back to smoking. Despite these factors, I finally did it, and I feel great.

If this sounds familiar, program the free Ohio Tobacco Quit Line, 800-784-8669 (800-QUIT-NOW) into your phone. Calling the Quit Line has helped more than 21,000 Ohioans quit tobacco use for good.

Through the Quit Line, you can seek out the help of trained quit specialists and access free or reduced cost nicotine patches. Callers to the Quit Line are five times more successful than quitting "cold turkey." And, when coupled with nicotine patches, the success rate jumps to 42 percent. Talk with your employer or insurance company or call the Quit Line to find out if you're eligible for the free or reduced cost patches.

A relationship with tobacco is one that our community can break. Unlike most breakups, which may end in heated arguments and broken hearts, a breakup with tobacco will lead to a stronger heart and a longer, healthier life.

Joyce Swetlick, M.P.H., is a program manager for the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation.

Tell them about it!

Let our advertisers know you saw their ad in the Gay People's Chronicle!

The Greater Dayton LGBT Center and The Dayton Pride Partnership present

Pride Dinner & Expo 2007

The Ponitz Center Sinclair Community College Saturday, June 16

Keynote Speaker

Matt Foreman

Executive Director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force

Music From

The Dayton Gay Men's Chorus

Perfomance From Resident Artists From

The Human Race Theatre Company

Ensemble Performance From

The Columbus Women's Chorus

IT'S ABOUT FREEDOM Beyton Pride Celebration 2007

5:00pm Hors d'oeuvres & Business Expo 7:00pm Dinner & Entertainment

For more info & tickets: www.daytonlgbtcenter.com

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Dayton Pride Celebration 2067

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