Fear of Covid-19 convinced around
630,000 people in Italy to quit smoking during the lockdown,
according to a study by the Higher Health Institute (ISS),
conducted in collaboration with the Mario Negri Institute, San
Raffaele University, ISPRO and DOXA.
Increased Consumption
But, amid the stress and the anxiety, those who have not
managed to quit have upped the dosage.
Indeed, 3.9 million people have increased or started nicotine
consumption, including electronic cigarettes, according to the
study presented for World No Tobacco Day.
Occasional Consumers.
The study said that one in five occasional
heated-tobacco-product consumers has become a regular consumer,
especially among the young.
Fewer Smokers.
The study carried out in April 2020 via the compilation of an
anonymous online questionnaire showed that, during the lockdown,
the proportion of smokers dropped from 23.3% to 21.9% of the
population.
That means 630,000 fewer smokers, 334,000 men and 295,000
women.
Age Groups.
People aged between 35 and 54 were those who quit most
(270,000), followed by those aged between 18 and 34 (206,000),
while only 150,000 men and women aged between 55 and 74 managed
this achievement.
Motivated Smokers.
"The figures tell us that a motivated smoker manages to quit
and situations of special health emergency can become a great
health opportunity," said Roberta Pacifici, the director of the
ISS's National Addition and Doping Centre.
More Cigarettes.
Unfortunately, however, 9% of the population, or 3.9 million
people, started to consume tobacco or increased their
consumption during the lockdown: 8.5% increased the number of
cigarettes they smoke a day; the average number of cigarettes
consumed went up from 10.9 to 12.7 and, those who increased
consumption were primarily women.
The occasional or regular users of electronic cigarettes
before the lockdown amounted to 8.1% of the population and
during the restrictions this went up to 9.1%, an increase of
around 436,000 people.
Before the lockdown, 4.1% of the Italian population, some
1.787 million people, used heated tobacco products and during
the lockdown this went up to 4,4%, an increase of around 130,800
users, above all among the young and adults with a high level of
education.
Toll-free Number.
During the lockdown, the personnel of the ISS's Numero Verde
Antifumo toll-free anti-smoking phone number handled an average
of 31 calls a day, compared to 52 before the lockdown, but the
average length of each call doubled, going from around eight
minutes to around 15 minutes.
Psychological Support.
Furthermore, programmes to help people quit and provide
psychological support have increased exponentially.
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