Disaster and smoking behavior
In the areas affected by the tsunami of the Great East Japan Earthquake, smoking behavior may have worsened due to high stress and rapid changes in the living environment. A survey was conducted to clarify the changes in smoking behavior of the victims.
In 2012.
A population-based random sample home interview survey of 1978 victims in Iwate and Miyagi prefectures was conducted in 2012, and a population-based national survey was conducted in 2013. 2014 panel survey was conducted among respondents of the 2012 survey to identify factors associated with post-disaster smoking status. The 2014 panel survey was conducted among respondents from the 2012 survey, and multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with post-disaster smoking status.
In the tsunami-affected areas, smoking rates were higher among both men and women.
In the tsunami-affected areas, smoking rates were higher among both men and women, and a lower prevalence of non-smokers was observed among men. The prevalence of nicotine dependence as assessed by the FTND (Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence) in coastal areas was also higher than in inland areas or other parts of Japan, and the smoking behavior of the survivors worsened after the disaster and did not improve even three years after the disaster.
Post-disaster factors associated with smoking were living in coastal areas, complete destruction of houses, and living in temporary housing.
In conclusion, three years after the disaster, smoking rates and levels of nicotine dependence were still high.
Osaki, Y., Maesato, H., Minobe, R. et al. Changes in smoking behavior among victims after the great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. Med 25, 19 (2020). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12199-020-00858-5
Summary
Although this study does not compare the data before and after the disaster, it concludes that the dependence rate and smoking rate are high even after a long time has passed since the disaster. This was observed not only after the Great East Japan Earthquake, but also after other serious situations such as hurricane damage in the past and after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
In each study, it was found that smoking behavior increased due to post-traumatic stress disorder, but in this study, it was attributed to the collapse of houses during the disaster, tsunami, and prolonged crowded evacuation.
I wondered if I had been smoking from the start. However, as mentioned above, there is no data to prove this, but based on the results of a nationwide survey in both coastal and non-coastal areas, this behavior after the disaster was concluded.
Even if it is due to the confusion caused by the new coronavirus, this kind of behavior may increase and continue, but I think people should quit smoking to reduce the risk of infectious diseases.
Although we may not be able to do so, I hope that we can plan to provide stress relief that does not involve smoking as part of the post-confusion behavior manual because of this data.
