Changes in Smoking Cessation–Related Behaviors Among US Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Submitted by Edie
- 2 August 2022
Key Points
Question Did smoking cessation–related behaviours change during the COVID-19 pandemic in the US?
Findings This cross-sectional study among 788 008 US adult smokers found that the annual prevalence of past-year quit attempts decreased for the first time since 2011, from 65.2% in 2019 to 63.2% in 2020.
Simultaneously, observed sales of nicotine replacement therapy brands from representative retail scanner data across 31 US states also decreased by 1% to 13% compared with expected sales.
Meaning These findings suggest a decrease in smoking cessation activity during the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to reengage smokers in evidence-based quitting strategies.
