Pandemic Fuels Rise in Tobacco Use, Cigarette Sales

The impact of COVID-19-related anxiety and stress have been linked to an increase in tobacco use and vaping, as well as the first year-over-year increase in cigarette sales observed in decades, according to a new white paper published by Pivot, a digital health company focused on individual wellness and population health.

Key Stats

Notable statistics on smoking habits in 2020 reported in the white paper include:

• In the first 10 months of 2020, cigarette sales increased roughly 1% despite the trend of sales falling 4% to 5% annually since 2015.
• Calls to quit lines were down 29% compared with 2019; US quit lines had averaged 700,000 to 900,000 calls annually, but in 2020, approximately 200,000 to 250,000 fewer people called for tobacco cessation support.
• US respondents reported that their smoking had increased 25%, with only 20.2% claiming they have reduced their smoking, and 59.9% saying their habits were unchanged.

“We’re seeing a disturbing trend in tobacco use,” Pivot Founder and CEO, David Utley, MD, said in a news release. “More people are working from home, making it easier to take a smoke break or use tobacco during the workday. The absence of enforced breaks and structure, combined with the pandemic stress-based triggers, make it harder for people to manage cravings. These trends are understandable—but dangerous.”

Health Impacts of Increased Tobacco Use During COVID-19

The US surgeon general has linked smoking to immune system suppression, leading people to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 and complications from the disease.

There are also significant psychological impacts of COVID-19 on tobacco users during the pandemic, according to the report. Respondents of a US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey reported “at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition, including symptoms of anxiety or depression, and 13.3% started or increased their substance use to cope with the stress and emotions they felt as a result of the pandemic.”

Business Impacts of Increased Tobacco Use

In addition to the health impacts of increased tobacco use, there are also significant financial and cultural impacts on businesses and employers, Pivot explained in the report.

“Employing a person who smokes costs employers an average of $8900 per year more than a non-smoking employee,” the white paper stated. The cost can also be seen in health plans, with tobacco-using employees costing more money than nonsmokers each year.

Smokers also have been found to miss more work than nonsmokers, with the average annual cost for lost productivity being $4430 per year versus $2623 per year, respectively.

Employers can take steps to support employees’ tobacco cessation to increase productivity and lower health risks. The report explores ways to empower employees, not “vilify” them, and offers steps businesses can take to create internal programs.

“The good news is 70% of smokers want to quit, and more than half try quitting every year. Employers can step in and provide tobacco cessation programs that increase the likelihood of success,” Pivot said in the news release.

Reference

Pivot white paper reveals increase in dangerous tobacco use due to COVID-19 anxiety and stress. News Release. Business Wire. February 15, 2022. Accessed March 2, 2022.

Pivot. COVID-19 Anxiety & Stress Drive Increased Tobacco Use: The Mental Health Cost of COVID-19 and What You Can Do About It. Pivot; 2022.