Journal of Addiction & Prevention

Research Article

Change in Patterns of Tobacco Use during Lockdown due to COVID-19

Yukti B1* , Kishore J1 and Jagdish K2

1Department of Community Medicine,Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, India
2Tobacco Free Initiative World Health Organization Regional Office for South-East Asia, India
*Address for Correspondence: Yukti B, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, Ansari Nagar, Delhi, India; Tel: 8130998281; Email: dr.yuktibhandari@ gmail.com
Submission: 24 December, 2021;
Accepted: 25 January, 2022;
Published: 29 January, 2022
Copyright: © 2022 Yukti B, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Introduction: Tobacco consumption is among the biggest public health concerns globally, causing disease, disability, premature deaths with additional economic, social and environmental burden. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a nationwide lockdown in India which affected tobacco consumption due to various reasons.
Objectives: This community-based-cross-sectional study aimed to assess the change in patterns of tobacco use during and after the lockdown. It also attempted to assess access to tobacco, withdrawal symptoms experienced, and perceptions about association of tobacco use with COVID-19.
Methods: The study was conducted in Aliganj, an urbanized village, in South Delhi. 140 adults(aged >15 years) who used tobacco before the lockdown, residing in Aliganj were included in the study. Data was analysed using SPSS-21.
Results: The prevalence of change in pattern of tobacco use during lockdown was 71.4% (66.7% smokers, 77.4% smokeless tobacco(SLT) users, 73.3% dual users). Quitting tobacco reported by 27.8% smokers, 30.2% SLT users, 13.3% dual users. A change in pattern after lockdown reported by 49.3% (45.8% smokers, 45.3% SLT users, 80% dual users). 46.2% reported experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Difficult availability of tobacco during lockdown reported by 60.0% and unavailability by 15.2%. Increased risk of COVID-19 infection among smokers and higher risk of developing severe disease perceived by 51.4% and 64.3%, respectively.
Conclusion: Clear impact of lockdown on tobacco use is indicated by the difference between change in tobacco use pattern during and after lockdown. Lockdown restrictions led to decreased income, increased prices and decreased availability of tobacco, which were major reasons for changed pattern during lockdown. Lifting of restrictions (post lockdown period) resulting in return to regular pricing, availability of tobacco products and lack of support for those who experienced withdrawal symptoms, caused return to old patterns of usage after lockdown. The factors identified in this study, if translated to policy change, might be effective in reducing tobacco usage during the pandemic and beyond.