Abstract
AimTo examine changes in smoking, drinking and quitting/reduction behaviour following the COVID‐19 lockdown in England.Design/settingMonthly cross‐sectional surveys representative of the adult population in England, aggregated before (April 2019–February 2020) versus after (April 2020) lockdown.ParticipantsA total of 20 558 adults (≥ 16 years).MeasurementsThe independent variable was the timing of the COVID‐19 lockdown (before versus after March 2020). Dependent variables were: prevalence of smoking and high‐risk drinking, past‐year cessation and quit attempts (among past‐year smokers), past‐year attempts to reduce alcohol consumption (among high‐risk drinkers) and use of evidence‐based (e.g. prescription medication/face‐to‐face behavioural support) and remote support [telephone support/websites/applications (apps)] for smoking cessation and alcohol reduction (among smokers/high‐risk drinkers who made a quit/reduction attempt). Covariates included age, sex, social grade, region and level of nicotine and alcohol dependence (as relevant).FindingsThe COVID‐19 lockdown was not associated with a significant change in smoking prevalence [17.0% (after) versus 15.9% (before), odds ratio (OR) = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.95–1.24], but was associated with increases in quit attempts [39.6 versus 29.1%, adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.23–1.98], quit success (21.3 versus 13.9%, ORadj = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.22–3.33) and cessation (8.8 versus 4.1%, ORadj = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.69–4.09) among past‐year smokers. Among smokers who tried to quit, there was no significant change in use of evidence‐based support (50.0 versus 51.5%, ORadj = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.72–1.68) but use of remote support increased (10.9 versus 2.7%, ORadj = 3.59, 95% CI = 1.56–8.23). Lockdown was associated with increases in high‐risk drinking (38.3 versus 25.1%, OR = 1.85, CI = 1.67–2.06), but also alcohol reduction attempts by high‐risk drinkers (28.5 versus 15.3%, ORadj = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.77–2.64). Among high‐risk drinkers who made a reduction attempt, use of evidence‐based support decreased (1.2 versus 4.0%, ORadj = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.05–0.97) and there was no significant change in use of remote support (6.9 versus 6.1%, ORadj = 1.32, 95% CI = 0.64–2.75).ConclusionsFollowing the March 2020 COVID‐19 lockdown, smokers and high‐risk drinkers in England were more likely than before lockdown to report trying to quit smoking or reduce alcohol consumption and rates of smoking cessation and use of remote cessation support were higher. However, high‐risk drinking prevalence increased post‐lockdown and use of evidence‐based support for alcohol reduction by high‐risk drinkers decreased with no compensatory increase in use of remote support.
Highlights
In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, substance use remains a public health priority [1,2]
In England, prevalence of high-risk drinking but not smoking has increased since the Covid-19 lockdown
Understanding what is happening to smoking, drinking, and quitting during the Covid-19 pandemic is important for evaluating the wider public health consequences of the pandemic
Summary
In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, substance use remains a public health priority [1,2]. Tobacco smoking and high-risk alcohol consumption are among the leading causes of disease and premature death worldwide [3,4]. In England, approximately 14% of adults smoke [5] and 21% exceed UK drinking guidelines [6]. Quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption can reduce the risk of chronic diseases and increase healthy life expectancy [7,8]. Understanding what is happening to smoking, drinking, and quitting during the Covid-19 pandemic is important for evaluating the wider public health consequences of the pandemic. It has important implications for informing the provision and targeting of support for smoking cessation and alcohol reduction
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