Lockdown: 68 % of smokers reduced cigarette consumption, 37% quit smoking

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May 31, 2020, New Delhi:  Indus Health Plus – a pioneer in preventive healthcare, conducted a three weeks consumer survey to understand the smoking behavior and pattern during the lockdown. Out of the total respondents, 39% were females and 61% males between the age group of 30 to 45 years. The sample size of the survey was 837 (Timeframe: May 8 – May 29).

The survey revealed that 68% of smokers have reduced their consumption due to increased selling prices of cigarettes by the retailers/ shopkeepers and its unavailability. While 39% of males and 25% of females have succeeded in reducing tobacco consumption in any form; 32% of smokers have increased their consumption of cigarettes. It has increased due to the stress of managing work from home and household chores, social distancing, and a lot of free time for a few people. 37% of the respondents mentioned that lockdown is a good opportunity to quit, while 42% said that it would help them reduce consumption.

Amol Naikawadi, Preventive Healthcare Specialist, Indus Health Plus says, “We have observed a significant change in people’s tobacco consumption pattern during this lockdown. Moreover, this lockdown has given an opportunity for people to find avenues to quit smoking and live a healthy life. We hope post lockdown people will continue this pattern of modified habits. Besides, it is imperative that people should realize the value of prevention to improve their health and acknowledge the harmful effects of smoking that results into cancer and other lifestyle diseases”.

The survey also revealed that the best and preferred place to smoke these days is the balcony. Almost 8% of smokers smoke inside their homes while 27% smoke outside their society campus smoke because their family is present. Moreover, after meal craving for a cigarette is the highest followed by the craving for a smoke before sleep. The respondents of this survey were majorly from metros along with tier-II cities of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.