Smoke-Free Lives: How State Policies Impact LGBTQ+ Youth

In 2023, a big study was done to see how state laws affect the smoking habits of LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. The focus was on whether having strong legal protections for LGBTQ+ people makes a difference in how many of them smoke cigarettes or use e-cigarettes. The study looked at data from 1, 255 LGBTQ+ individuals aged 15 to 31. The researchers scored each state based on how well it protects LGBTQ+ rights, using a scale from very restrictive to very protective. This scoring was based on policies tracked by the Movement Advancement Project. The study found something interesting. LGBTQ+ youth in states with strong protections had much lower chances of smoking cigarettes or using e-cigarettes. These protective policies made a big difference. In fact, LGBTQ+ individuals in these states had 65% lower odds of smoking cigarettes and 56% lower odds of using e-cigarettes compared to those in states with weak protections. This means that having good laws in place can really help reduce smoking among LGBTQ+ youth. The study also considered other factors like age, gender, and how much money the state spends on tobacco control. Even after accounting for these things, the link between strong LGBTQ+ protections and lower smoking rates remained clear. This suggests that feeling safe and supported can lead to healthier choices. One important thing to note is that the study did not look at why this might be the case. However, it is known that stress and discrimination can lead to harmful behaviors, like smoking. So, it makes sense that feeling protected and accepted could help reduce these behaviors. The findings have important implications for public health. If states want to reduce smoking among LGBTQ+ youth, they should consider strengthening their LGBTQ+ protections. This could be a key step in making sure all young people have the chance to live healthy lives.