Changes in smoking behavior among victims after the great East Japan earthquake and tsunami

COVID-19 has become a global pandemic, with over 81 million cases worldwide. To assess changes in tobacco use as a result of the pandemic, we surveyed a convenience sample of current tobacco users between April and June 2020. The sample was taken from a tobacco user research registry (n = 3396) from the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA. Participants who responded to the survey and were eligible for this study (n = 291) were 25.6% male, 93% white, and had a mean age of 47.3 (SD = 11.6) years. There were no reports of participants testing positive for COVID-19, but 21.7% reported experiencing symptoms associated with the virus. Most participants (67%) believed that their risk of contracting COVID-19 was the same as non-tobacco users, but 57.7% believed that their risk of serious complications, if infected, was greater compared to non-tobacco users. A total of 28% reported increasing their cigarette use during the pandemic. The most common reasons for increased use were increased stress, more time at home, and boredom while quarantined. Nearly 15% reported decreasing their tobacco use. The most common reasons for reduced use were health concerns and more time around non-smokers (including children). A total of 71 (24.5%) users reported making a quit attempt. Characterizing these pandemic-related changes in tobacco use may be important to understanding the full scope of subsequent health outcomes resulting from the pandemic. Tobacco cessation resources should be tailored to allow for safe, appropriate access for those interested in quitting.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tobacco Use Changes and Perceived Health Risks among Current Tobacco Users during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Yingst

Krebs

Bordner

et al. 2021

“…Several cross-sectional studies have shown that perceived stress leads to increased rates of cigarette smoking [1,2]. Multiple reports have also shown that the prevalence of tobacco use increased after anthropogenic and natural disasters, such as the 11 September 2001 attacks [3], Hurricane Katrina [4], and the Japanese tsunami in 2011 [5], where rates of tobacco use in survivors were near double the national averages. The COVID-19 pandemic is the most recent global disaster, with over 250 million infections and 5 million deaths worldwide as of 9 November 2021 [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Tobacco Use Patterns among Veterans in San Diego during the Recent Peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Fatollahi

Bentley

Doran

et al. 2021

The prevalence of tobacco use increases in times of stress; however, during the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, tobacco use rates stayed the same in most populations. Previous work focused on the initial months of the pandemic, while this study examined the changes in tobacco use during a later peak period of the pandemic. We used data from 61,852 visits to the VA San Diego Healthcare System from November 2019 to February 2021, divided into pre-, early, and peak pandemic periods. Multinomial logistic regression was used to test whether the odds of being a daily or non-daily tobacco user varied over time, by demographic group, or with the presence of specific psychiatric diagnoses. Younger Veterans had a greater reduction in the prevalence of non-daily tobacco use between the early and peak periods, while older Veterans had a rise in daily use from pre- to the early pandemic, which returned to baseline during the peak. Individuals with substance use disorder and serious mental illness diagnoses were more likely to report tobacco use, but psychiatric diagnoses did not predict change over time. These findings demonstrate factors that potentially contribute to changes in tobacco use during a public health crisis and may help guide future targeted cessation efforts.

“…The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant changes in lifestyles (e.g., virtual learning, social distancing, and remote working) and economic instability, which resulted in stress, anxiety, and isolation for many people. As the association between negative affect and smoking suggests [ 1 , 2 ], people tend to increase tobacco consumption following the exposure to stressful events, such as natural and human-made disasters [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, is different from those disasters because of its direct and nationwide impact on the health of all individuals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Little Cigar and Cigarillo Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of a Nationally Representative Sample of Young Adult Users

Lee

Moore

Trapl

et al. 2022

We examined the smoking behaviors of U.S. young adults ages 18–36 regarding little cigars and cigarillos (LCCs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey data were collected from a nationally representative sample of young adults between October and November 2020. Respondents who reported using LCCs with tobacco (CAI) and/or with marijuana (CAB) within the past 6 months prior to the survey (n = 399) were included in the study. Logistic regression analyses assessed the association between their perceived risk of having COVID when smoking LCCs and pandemic-related behavioral changes in CAI and CAB use (e.g., worrying, quit attempts, smoking more, smoking less). Findings showed that users with a higher perceived risk of getting COVID-19 when smoking LCCs were more likely to endorse trying to quit CAI and CAB during the pandemic. Compared to the non-Hispanic White population, the non-Hispanic Black population were less likely to endorse smoking less CAI and trying to quit CAB during the pandemic. Dual users of CAI and CAB and females were more likely to endorse smoking more CAB compared to CAB-only users and males, respectively. Tailored cessation strategies are needed for dual users, non-Hispanic Black young adults, and young women. Raising awareness about the risks of LCC use can be an effective strategy for LCC smoking cessation.