Though the COVID-19 lockdown measures have come with both fiscal and monetary support, many long-term negative implications remain unseen. The increase in tobacco use is one of these hidden effects.
Smoke-free workplaces reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. At the time of this writing, 27 states in the United States have laws that “require all non-hospitality workplaces, restaurants, and bars to be 100 percent smoke-free.” When looking at municipalities, roughly 82% of the population falls under a 100% smoke-free regulation in workplaces.
Studies suggest that employees in smoke-free workplaces are twice as likely to stop smoking and reduce smoking by 3.8%. Furthermore, active smokers smoke 3.1 fewer cigarettes per day as a result of these policies.
Though tobacco-free advocates propose using the pandemic as a “teachable” moment, they note that attempting to quit during these times is tough. With the unprecedented increase in unemployment, tobacco use will increase considerably.
Unemployment is strongly linked to cigarette smoking. The odds of smoking are 2.78 times higher among unemployed individuals than that of more senior managers and professionals who continue to be employed. Even when controlling for demographics and socioeconomic status, unemployment still has a notable effect on smoking.
With individuals staying at home, the constraint of a smoke-free policy is eliminated. In addition to this practical constraint, the psychosocial factors that come with suddenly losing a job also increase the rate of tobacco consumption. The idea that smoking is used as a way to cope with the stress that comes from uncontrollable and economic problems is well documented.
Social relations also provide essential checks on tobacco use. With social distancing measures, where social ties are extremely hindered, these checks are also thrown out the window. Our social circles, which are often work-related, are severed when individuals cannot go to work. Social exclusion exacerbates the stress by removing the very cushion that helps individuals cope with the loss of a job.
For former smokers and those trying to quit, their social circles are intentional. Smoking is often considered a social activity. In turn, one of the most effective ways to quit smoking is by entering a circle of nonsmokers. The informal norms of these groups offer the necessary constraint to beat the habit. However, the norms of the group go away when stay-at-home orders are in place.
Successful quitters must set up their environments to combat the urges that never really go away. The combination of social circles, workplace policies, and routine work schedules all contribute to quitting smoking. By completely disrupting the necessary constraints and basically forcing individuals into unemployment, we will undoubtedly see former smokers take up smoking again.
What’s more, the shutting down of schools and workplaces affects the use of tobacco substitutes such as electronic cigarettes. The use of e-cigarettes by former smokers will likewise increase. Though these substitutes are often purported to be healthier alternatives to tobacco smoke, the vapor contains enough nicotine to establish an addiction. Besides, the more users can smoke, the stronger the addiction. They now can smoke freely at their homes at all times of the day.
The science is clear: Smoking increases the likelihood of a slew of deadly health problems. In the name of “saving lives,” however, the lockdown measures may exacerbate people’s health problems and shave years off their lives on the back end.
Kevin D. Gomez is an instructor of economics and program manager of the Institute for Economic Inquiry at Creighton University.
