Smoking among young adults increased by 25% during first lockdown

The number of 18 to 34 year-olds in England who smoke increased by 25% in the first lockdown, according to a study published in the journal Addiction and funded by Cancer Research UK. This equates to over 652,000 more young adults smoking compared to before the pandemic, according to the charity’s estimates. This is a serious setback for tobacco prevention efforts. 

Dr. Sarah Jackson lead the research study Moderators of changes in smoking, drinking and quitting behavior associated with the first COVID-19 lockdown in England. She explains: "The first lockdown was unprecedented in the way it changed people’s day-to-day lives. We found that many smokers took this opportunity to stop smoking, which is fantastic. However, the first lockdown was also a period of great stress for many people, and we saw rates of smoking and risky drinking increase among groups hardest hit by the pandemic."

We know the lockdown will have ripple effects on mental and physical health in ways we are just now discovering. As we continue to battle COVID-19 its important to remember that addiction, stress and mental health issues still persist. If you need help managing stress, or managing addiction- there are ways you can still connect to support. Don't wait, reach out and find medical or professional help.