Tobacco Cessation Support Following a New Wave of Pandemic Stressors

There is no doubt that for many this past year was filled with stress, worry, and a departure from regular routines. It was especially hard on tobacco users who were trying to quit or stay tobacco-free. In 2020, despite efforts to educate people about the additional risks smoking had on COVID-19, the number of tobacco users seeking help to quit was down. Statistics show calls to the national quit line portal were down 27%, while cigarette sales were up 1%. 

New Pandemic Stressors and Effects on Smoking

There is a light at the end of the tunnel with vaccines and lifted restrictions, but stress is still in the picture as employees are being reintroduced to an office setting again. That means, for many, dealing with stressors like changes in schedule, connection with co-workers, childcare, and managing the separation between work and home life. Many of these stressors make it even harder to quit smoking or stay tobacco-free.

Employees need support from their employers in their efforts to quit. And supporting employees in the attempts to quit not only benefits employees but employers as well. When employers have effective tobacco-free programs, it helps to improve employee health and saves employers money.

Smoking on Employee Health

There is no question of the effects smoking has on employees' mental and physical well-being. Mentally, smoking can cause stress, addiction, and depression. Physically, smoking harms nearly every organ in the body and can lead to many negative health effects like a decline in immune function and raise the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Smoking is also associated with a greater hospital and mortality risk when paired with COVID-19. A recent study by Cleveland Clinic analyzed the association of smoking and cumulative pack-year exposure with COVID-19 outcomes. Findings revealed heavy smokers (30 pack-years) had 2.25x's higher odds of hospitalization and were nearly two times more likely to die following a COVID-19 diagnosis than non-smokers2.

Smoking and Financial Impact on Employers

Smokers cost employers nearly $6000 more each year than non-smokers3. These costs stem from productivity losses on the job and absenteeism, and direct costs due to healthcare. Annual cost estimates to an employer are broken down by the following:

  • Missed days at work- $517

  • Lost productivity on the job- $462

  • Lost productivity smoking breaks- $3077

  • Health care expenses- $2056

Establishing a Successful Tobacco Cessation Program

Running a successful tobacco cessation program doesn't have to be complicated. Employers need the right tools to support their employees who want to quit. It is important to consider workplace policies, professional support, and digital tools for an engaging tobacco cessation program.

Making sure workplace policies are set and reviewed is a great starting place for cessation programs. Workplace tobacco cessation policies promote a culture of good health. Policies help set rules and restrictions that can emphasize a tobacco-free environment to help reduce exposure and encourage users to quit.

Other powerful tools that offer support and motivation, like health coaching and digital support tools, make excellent program components to help employees start thinking about change. These tools can motivate employees through each stage of change when making a quit attempt.

 Alyfe can provide you with the tools you need for your tobacco cessation program. Download our free Tobacco-Free Policy Kit to get started. Contact our team for more information on health coaching and digital support tools.

 Resources:

1)    Mary Chris Jaklevic, M. (2021, May 18). COVID-19 and the “Lost Year” for Smokers Trying to Quit. JAMA.

2)    Lowe, K. E., Zein, J., Hatipoglu, U., & Attaway, A. (2021). Association of Smoking and Cumulative Pack-Year Exposure With COVID-19 Outcomes in the Cleveland Clinic COVID-19 Registry. JAMA Internal Medicine, 181(5). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.8360

3)    Berman, M., Crane, R., Seiber, E., & Munur, M. (2014). Estimating the cost of a smoking employee. Tobacco Control, 23(5), 428–433. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2012-050888

Ashwin Lakhi