According to a presentation due to be given at the UK National Smoking Cessation Conference, the recession is making it more difficult for people to quit smoking. 23% of smokers are delaying plans to give up, with over a quarter of those surveyed blaming worries such as job security, paying bills and feeding their families for failures to give up since December.
In total it is estimated that 2 million people are not quitting for the moment due to money-related stresses. A spokesperson from the Royal College of Nursing said that it was important people be offered effective options and better support to encourage them to give up regardless of money-related problems.
Many people surveyed said they felt considerably more stressed than they used to, with over three-quarters saying that they derived comfort from smoking a cigarette when they were under stress. 1 in 4 believed that the economic downturn had encouraged them to smoke more than before. For nearly half, smoking was so important to them they said they were willing to cut spending on their clothes or weekly shopping.
The presentation is based on a study was commissioned from the polling company Ipsos Mori, who were asked by nicotine-replacement-manufacturers, Mcneil Products, to see to what extent the economic situation is impacting on smoker’s habits.