Health Initiative for Men and B.C. Lung Association to help gay men stop smoking

LGBT people are disproportionately impacted by smoking, due to stress from discrimination and exclusion, aggressive advertising by tobacco companies, and other factors.

If you're a bisexual, gay, or MSM (men who have sex with men) guy who plans to make a New Year's resolution to stop smoking in 2017, you can get some informative support from some local organizations who want to give you a helping hand.

The Lung Association of British Columbia is joining forces with Health Initiative for Men to help queer men in their efforts to quit lighting up cigarettes and kick the habit.

They'll be holding two free workshops that will offer information about what options are available for quitting, how to beat cravings, undergoing withdrawal, how to keep your life permanently free of smoking, various options for support, and what resources are available, including 24-hour toll-free phone lines.

The first workshop will be held in Vancouver from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on January 17 at the downtown HIM office at 310–1033 Davie Street.

The second will be held in New Westminster from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on January 18 at HIM in New West Health Centre (40 Begbie Street, New Westminster).

To register or for more information, email HIM or call 604-488-1001. More information will be available at the HIM website.