I smoked/vaped for a long time just for this reason. It's a great way to put a little distance between you and the environment.
I'm not suggesting you do this, but I am a bit older now so I don't know how much the ice breaker activities have changed. Perhaps there are other less harmful options? Even if not, you can pal around at a safe distance.
A gigantic point of assistance is having someone who can help you as a sort of social ambassador. Having someone around who understands but is better equipped to help is a godsend.