Recession preventing people giving up smoking
Instead of encouraging smokers to quit the habit and save money, the recession has meant many are continuing to smoke to help deal with stress, reports the BBC.
A survey of 877 smokers and ex-smokers by Ipsos Mori revealed that nearly a quarter of smokers had abandoned plans to try and kick the habit, and 28% said they had simply been too stressed to attempt it.
Around three quarters of those surveyed said they would smoke during times of stress as they found it comforting, and a quarter said they had been smoking more due to stress caused by the recession.
Despite the financial burden of smoking, many smokers had instead given up other items such as cutting back on clothes or food in order to fund their habit.
Jennifer Percival, tobacco policy advisor at the Royal College of Nursing, said:” We know that the earlier people quit, the better, so we need to make sure that those who are delaying quit plans are being offered effective options and support to help them to stop smoking successfully.”
