While many people believe smoking helps them manage stress, research shows the opposite is true: nicotine and nicotine addiction have a counteractive effect and generally increase anxiety and depression. According to the Defiance County Health Department, 3.5% of Defiance County adults report they smoke tobacco to deal with stress, but this approach ultimately exacerbates mental health issues.
Youth Particularly Vulnerable
The mental health impacts are especially concerning for young people. Youth who are current smokers are about 2.3 times more likely than non-smokers to report feelings of sadness and hopelessness lasting for more than two weeks in a row. More alarming, 62.5% of current youth smokers reported seriously considering attempting suicide, compared to 18.6% of non-smokers. People get a “false calm” from smoking, which prevents them from seeking out healthy coping mechanisms and creates a vicious cycle.
Available Resources
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and resources are available to help people quit. The free Ohio Quit Line (1-800-QUIT NOW or 1-800-784-8669) provides coaching and support. Those who call receive counseling and may be eligible for nicotine replacement therapy. The service encourages multiple quit attempts, as success typically requires several tries for something as addictive as nicotine. For teens who vape, information is available through the Defiance County Leadership Council website at https://defiancecohealth.org/defiance-county-leadership-council/.
Additional resources include CredibleMind, a website with self-assessment tools and mental health resources available at 4ymh.crediblemind.com. Walk-in clinics operated by Ohio Guidestone and Recovery Services of Northwest Ohio are available in Defiance, Wauseon, Napoleon, and Bryan, and a resource line at 1-800-468-4357 (1-800-Got Help) provides information on mental health and support services.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.crescent-news.com/news/local_news/smoking-detrimental-to-mental-health-options-offered/article_0114f903-de28-49dc-a8c9-59cb576cec4d.html