Over half a MILLION young people took up smoking to combat stress of lockdown
MORE than half a million young people took up smoking to combat the stress and boredom of lockdown.
The number of 18 to 34-year-olds sparking up increased by 25 per cent — an extra 652,000 people — a worrying study revealed.
And an extra 4.5 million people, mainly women, developed drink problems, researchers from University College London found.
The study showed a 40 per cent rise in problem drinking across all age groups. Women were most affected, with a 55 per cent increase.
Younger people, particularly those from poorer backgrounds, were most likely to start smoking.
Dr Sarah Jackson, from UCL, said: “Lockdown was a period of great stress for many people and we saw rates of smoking and problem drinking increase among groups hardest hit by the pandemic.
“People mistakenly believe smoking relieves stress, so some may have used tobacco or alcohol as a means of coping with increased stress or boredom.”
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The researchers, funded by Cancer Research UK, noted that smoking was the UK’s biggest preventable cause of cancer and was known to be linked to at least 15 different types of the disease.
Dr Luke Powles, clinical director at Health Clinics, said: “Many people smoke because they feel like it helps them to unwind or deal with stress, but smoking doesn’t actually make you calmer or happier.
“The relaxation and happiness that can come from smoking wear off very quickly. When these feelings go away it makes you want to smoke more. These cravings can feel like anxiety, and when you smoke, they go away.
“Stopping smoking isn’t easy, but the benefits could add years to your life. The benefits start from the first hour and the risks lower from the first day that you quit.”
He added smoking puts people at higher risk of multiple cancers including in the mouth, throat and bladder, and smokers have a significantly higher risk of heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, and dementia.
Last year, the Office for National Statistics found the number of people who smoked had fallen dramatically over the past decade — from nearly 20 per cent in 2011 to just under 14 per cent.
In particular, the habit had fallen out of fashion among 18 to 24-year-olds.
More than half of those who smoked said they wanted to quit.