Discrimination and Tobacco Use in LGBTQ Young Adults

Apr.20.2023
Discrimination and Tobacco Use in LGBTQ Young Adults
Tobacco Control is an international journal that studies the effects of tobacco on health, economy, environment, and society.

Tobacco Control is an international journal aimed at studying the nature and consequences of tobacco use worldwide, including its impact on population health, the economy, the environment, and society. The journal seeks to prevent and control the widespread use of tobacco through promoting public knowledge of tobacco, industry ethics, policy-making, and social activism by the tobacco industry and its allies, playing a positive role in these areas. On December 7, 2022, the journal published a paper entitled "Discrimination, Identity Connectedness and Tobacco Use in a Sample of Sexual and Gender Minority Young Adults".


Source of image: The front page of the December 2022 issue of "Tobacco Control" journal, featuring an article on discrimination, identity affiliation, and smoking behavior among young adults in the LGBTQ community.


The summary of this paper can be translated into standard journalistic English as follows:


Title: Higher Tobacco Use Among Sexual and Gender Minority Populations According to previous research in academia, a widely accepted viewpoint is that sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations have higher smoking rates than heterosexual or cisgender populations. However, there is little research exploring the smoking habits of different racial/ethnic SGM subgroups or the association between SGM-specific discrimination and identity with smoking behavior. A new study in the United States has shown that SGM populations have higher tobacco use rates compared to heterosexual populations. The study also found differences in tobacco use rates among SGM subgroups based on ethnicity and identity.


The research team includes experts and scholars Alex Budenz, Jennifer Gaber, Erik Crankshaw, Andie Malterud, Emily B Peterson, Dana E Wagner, and Emily C Sanders. These individuals come from various organizations, including the Center for Tobacco Products in the Office of Health Communication and Education at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Center for Health Analytics, Media and Policy at RTI International, and the Research Department at Rescue Agency.


Research methodology: This study surveyed 11,313 young American sexual and gender minority (SGM) adults to investigate the associations between different tobacco use methods (including traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, and tobacco powder) and SGM sub-populations, race/ethnicity, SGM-specific discrimination, and identity. Data analysis was conducted using multiple logistic regression models to predict the relationships between SGM sub-populations, race/ethnicity, SGM-specific discrimination, identity, and various tobacco use methods.


Investigation Results: The study revealed that there are differences in tobacco use among sub-groups of the sexual minority population and between different races/ethnicities. Female homosexuals (especially black female homosexuals) are more likely than average to use multiple tobacco products. White bisexuals and female homosexuals have a higher likelihood of smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes than the average. Severe discrimination is associated with the use of multiple tobacco products, and the more likely SGM groups are to identify with discrimination and tobacco use being positively correlated, the more likely they are to defend their smoking behavior as being reasonable.


Conclusion: This study found differences in tobacco use among SGM subgroups and among different races/ethnicities. Experiencing discrimination may be a risk factor for tobacco use behavior, while a strong sense of SGM identity may provide an explanatory role for certain tobacco use behaviors among gender and sexual minorities and those experiencing specific SGM discrimination. These findings can guide targeted approaches to reach SGM subgroups at higher risk for tobacco use. The researchers call for the development of more comprehensive and precise policies and interventions to eliminate the inequality surrounding this public health issue.


Reference:


Discrimination, Identity Connections, and Tobacco Use Among Sexual and Gender Minority Young Adults: A Study


Related Reading:


【Science】Latest scientific research clarifies the link between nicotine addiction and human identity cognition.


A recent scientific experiment shows that the flavor of nicotine and marijuana-based electronic cigarette products is a factor in attracting more adolescents to try them.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Hunan China Tobacco Industry files heated tobacco device patent featuring adult-user identification through pressure sensing
Hunan China Tobacco Industry files heated tobacco device patent featuring adult-user identification through pressure sensing
China-based Hunan China Tobacco Industry Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Baisha Technology Co., Ltd. have filed a patent application covering an adult-user identification mechanism for heated tobacco devices. The patent proposes using flexible pressure sensors installed in the device grip area to collect pressure distribution patterns generated when users hold the device. The system evaluates factors including effective contact area, grip shape and contact duration, and combines roller movement detection to determine whether unlocking conditions are met. The filing reflects exploration of device-level user recognition and smarter interaction technologies for heated tobacco products (HTPs).
Aug.05
South Korea Constitutional Court Upholds Volume-Based E-Liquid Tax, With Challenged Rates at KRW 370 and KRW 628 per Milliliter
South Korea Constitutional Court Upholds Volume-Based E-Liquid Tax, With Challenged Rates at KRW 370 and KRW 628 per Milliliter
South Korea's Constitutional Court has upheld fixed taxes on nicotine-containing e-cigarette liquids based on solution volume, ruling that challenged provisions imposing KRW 370 per milliliter in individual consumption tax and KRW 628 per milliliter in tobacco consumption tax do not violate the Constitution. The cases stemmed from historical disputes involving importers that reported nicotine as being extracted from tobacco stems rather than leaves. South Korea has since broadened its tobacco definition to include synthetic nicotine, while current tax laws provide reduced rates for certain products not derived from tobacco.
Sep.18
Product | JNR Launches Shisha Hookah 70K E-Hookah With 60ml E-Liquid and 0.6% Nicotine
Product | JNR Launches Shisha Hookah 70K E-Hookah With 60ml E-Liquid and 0.6% Nicotine
JNR has introduced the Shisha Hookah 70K, a high-capacity rechargeable disposable vape designed around a hookah-inspired experience. The device comes prefilled with 60ml of e-liquid at 6mg/ml (0.6%) nicotine strength, alongside a 1,000mAh rechargeable battery and a 0.38Ω single mesh coil. It also features adjustable airflow and battery and e-liquid level displays. JNR claims the device can deliver up to 70,000 puffs and offers more than 20 flavors. Retail listings for the product have appeared in markets including Tunisia.
Market
Aug.24 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Trump Picks White House Health Policy Aide Heidi Overton to Lead FDA, Pending Senate Confirmation
Trump Picks White House Health Policy Aide Heidi Overton to Lead FDA, Pending Senate Confirmation
U.S. President Donald Trump has chosen White House health policy aide Heidi Overton to lead the Food and Drug Administration, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. Overton currently works on health policy at the White House and previously held a senior role at the America First Policy Institute. If confirmed by the Senate, she would take over an FDA that has experienced months of senior-level turnover. The agency regulates products representing roughly one-fifth of U.S. consumer spending, including e-cigarettes, drugs, vaccines and much of the food supply.
News
Aug.19
After Apple Business Decline, South Korea’s ITM Semiconductor Expands KT&G Vape Supply Chain as Vape Revenue Rises 24.8%
After Apple Business Decline, South Korea’s ITM Semiconductor Expands KT&G Vape Supply Chain as Vape Revenue Rises 24.8%
South Korean electronics component supplier ITM Semiconductor is reshaping its business portfolio after a decline in Apple-related protection circuit business, expanding its supply of vape devices and cartridges to KT&G. According to News1 on August 18, 2026, ITM’s vape-related revenue rose 24.8% year on year to 75.5 billion won in the first half of 2026. The company began mass production of vape devices at its Cikarang, Indonesia facility in January 2026, strengthening export manufacturing capacity. Meanwhile, Samsung-related protection circuit sales continued to grow, providing support during the transition.
Aug.20
Zhang Xiaotang Appointed Deputy Director of China’s Tobacco Regulator, Adding Another Finance-Background Official to Top Leadership
Zhang Xiaotang Appointed Deputy Director of China’s Tobacco Regulator, Adding Another Finance-Background Official to Top Leadership
China’s State Council has appointed Zhang Xiaotang as deputy director of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, with the regulator’s official website now listing him as a Party leadership group member and deputy director. Zhang previously led Hebei China Tobacco and earlier headed the STMA’s finance and audit department. His appointment follows the elevation earlier this year of former tax official Yao Laiying to head the STMA, adding another senior official with a strong fiscal or financial-management background to China Tobacco’s top leadership in 2026.
News
Sep.20