MyAV范

This听means that听over听652,000 more听young adults smoke, compared to before the听pandemic*.听

The听study, published today in听the journal听Addiction听and funded by Cancer Research UK, found听that听over听4.5听milli辞苍听more听adults听would be听classed as high-risk drinkers听during the same period**听as听the number听rose by听40%.听But听this听trend听was听particularly听worrying in听women (up 55%) as well as people from lower听socioeconomic groups (up 64%).听

Though听existing听heavy听drinkers听did make听attempts听to cut down,听this听was听only听observed听in adults from听higher socioeconomic groups,听suggesting听that if听trends continue,听health inequalities linked to alcohol听could worsen.听

There were听increases in听the number of听existing smokers听quitting successfully,听and听overall levels of smoking in adults remains stable.听However, the increased number of听young adults听who smoke听means that, for the Government to deliver its goal for England to become smoke-free by 2030, smokers would need to quit听at a rate of听around 40% faster than听predicted.听听

While the study doesn鈥檛 explain why these听changes occurred, the听researchers noted听that听people from lower income backgrounds, younger adults, and women are among those who have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Given that many people mistakenly believe that smoking and drinking help relieve stress,听they suggest听it鈥檚 possible that some may听have听taken up听these up听for the first听time or听relapsed听to help them听cope.听听

Smoking is the biggest preventable cause of cancer 鈥� it is known to cause at least 15 different cancer types 鈥� while drinking even small amounts听of alcohol increases the risk of seven听different types of cancer.听

Lead author Dr Sarah Jackson (MyAV范 Institute of Epidemiology & Health)听said:听鈥淭he first lockdown was unprecedented in the way it changed听people鈥檚 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.听

鈥淚t will be important to keep a close eye 辞苍听how these听increases听in smoking and drinking听develop over time听to ensure appropriate support is听made听accessible听for anyone听who听needs it.鈥澨�

Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK鈥檚 chief executive, said:听鈥淭here鈥檚 no 鈥榮afe鈥� level of听smoking听or听drinking,听and听stopping smoking or听cutting down听drinking听will听help to听reduce your risk of cancer.听听

鈥淧ublic health听campaigns听and prevention services have a vital role to play in听helping people to quit听and听also听maintaining听the motivation of those who have already made positive changes.听The upcoming tobacco control plan for England is a key opportunity for the Government to听reduce听smoking rates, but this can only be achieved with听sufficient听investment.

"A听Smokefree听Fund 鈥� using tobacco industry funds, but without industry interference 鈥� could pay for the comprehensive measures needed听to prevent people from starting to smoke and helping those who do, to quit.鈥澨�

The Addiction study also involved researchers from the University of Sheffield.

*Cancer听Research听UK extrapolations听comparing smoking prevalence of in听18-34 year听olds听in England 21.5% before lockdown (August 2019 - February 2020) to 26.8%听during the first lockdown听(April 2020- July 2020)听and using听ONS mid-year population estimates for 2020听to听estimate听the number of people this represents.听听

This includes听those听taking up smoking for the first time听and听those who have relapsed听after not smoking for at least a year.听Cancer听Research UK听estimates that around 3,300,000听18-34 year olds听in England were classed as smokers during the first lockdown in April 2020- July 2020.听听

**Comparing high-risk drinking prevalence of all adults in England of 25.8% August 2019 - February 2020 to 36% in April 2020- July 2020 and using听ONS mid-year population estimates for 2020听to听estimate听the number of people this represents.听听

High-risk drinking defined by an Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test 鈥� consumption (AUDIT-C) score 鈮�5听

Smokefree听is defined in the听Government听ambition as 5% of the total adult population smoking.听听听

Links

• MyAV范 Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care
• MyAV范 Population Health Sciences

Source

Image

• 鈥榗igarette, smoke, embers, ash鈥� 肠谤别诲颈迟听辞苍听, CC BY 2.0

Media contact

Mark Greaves

T: +44 (0)7990 675947

E: m.greaves [at] ucl.ac.uk