The Food and Drug Administration has launched a campaign to help convince lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young adults not to use tobacco.
The new campaign, at a cost of $35.7 million, titled “This Free Life” includes four videos, as well as print, digital and outdoor ads.
Of the more than 2 million LGBT young adults, more than 800,000 smoke occasionally, the FDA claims.
“We know LGBT young adults in this country are nearly twice as likely to use tobacco as other young adults,” Mitch Zeller, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, said in a press release. “We want LGBT young adults to know that there is no safe amount of smoking. Even an occasional cigarette can have serious health implications and lead to addiction.”
According to the FDA, the high use of tobacco in LGBT young adults 18 to 24 can be attributed to the “coming out” process “due to the actual and perceived social stigma, discrimination and anxiety experienced.”
The campaign will be launched in 12 U.S. markets this week, and is funded by user fees collected from the tobacco industry.
Its tagline is “Freedom to Be, Tobacco-Free.”
“The campaign shows LGBT young adults they can be the person they want to be and still live tobacco free,” said Richard Wolitski, acting director of Health and Human Services’ Office for HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy.
