A Pandemic-sized Smoking Increase
It seems there’s been a rather large increase in smoking habits since the pandemic began. Multiple reports have shown a rather sharp increase in smoking, based on data showing fewer smokers having contacted smoking quitting services.
According to data provided from the National American Quitline Consortium, 2020 saw phone line quitting services decreased by 27%, which equates to over 190,000 calls.
In a press release, they stated: “The decrease in calls mirrored the timeline of the pandemic, with a 6% decrease in the first quarter of 2020 (January – March), followed by decreases of 39%, 30%, and 21% for quarters two, three, and four. Research suggests that the stress and anxiety resulting from the pandemic may be factors in the increased use of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances. NAQC suggests that these factors may have contributed to the decrease in calls to quitlines.”
This drop in service usage reports 520,000 in 2020 compared to the previous calendar year.
Vaping has never been more important in this era, as changes in smoking cessation & cigarette sales during the pandemic continue to climb as people are struggling to get a hold of the vaping supplies that they need. This impacts smokers, public health, and the health care system.
Love, Supergood.
