Smokers responded to COVID-19 stress in different ways: while some decided to quit cigarettes for fear of developing a severe form of the disease, others took up smoking again to cope with stress and anxiety.

Smoking is the one habit that most people wish they didn't have. According to an FDA survey, as much as 70% of US adults wanted to quit smoking at least once in their life, and only 8% of them didn't regret starting smoking. Being the most disruptive change to everyday life that most of us have experienced, the COVID-19 pandemic was also bound to influence our perception of smoking – especially considering that COVID-19 is a respiratory disease and doctors advised against it. However, smokers reacted to it in different ways: while some quit cold turkey to avoid health complications, others relapsed because cigarettes helped them cope with stress and anxiety.