Smoking Makes a Comeback in the Pandemic

Smoking Makes a Comeback in the Pandemic
Posted on Mar 16 2021
HealthDay

During a recent panel discussion, smoking cessation and addiction experts raised concerns about the uptick in tobacco use and emphasized the urgent need to reverse it. "Researchers noticed this changed also for alcohol and other substances, and have suggested that stress and anxiety that resulted from the pandemic may be factors that are driving up the use of tobacco, alcohol and other substances," said Linda Bailey, CEO of the North American Quitline Consortium (NAQC). Dr. Ken Duckworth, NAMI CMO and a member of the panel, noted there could be a long tail of mental health issues stemming from the pandemic, and Hurley suggested tailoring smoking cessation treatment to individuals. Strategies could include combining medical options and a mix of medications, counseling and support. Insurance coverage for programs to help people quit, as well as counseling and medications, are among keys to helping reduce tobacco use.