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Woman smoker with wine glass: boredom can increase consumption
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Many smokers and regular alcohol drinkers say they have increased their consumption significantly during the corona crisis.
Of those who already drink alcohol several times a week, around a quarter have been drinking more since the pandemic began, according to a Forsa survey carried out on behalf of the Kaufmännische Krankenkasse (KKH).
A similar picture emerges among smokers: every ninth regular smoker has been using a cigarette more often since the beginning of the pandemic.
Younger people between the ages of 16 and 29 are particularly affected.
Everyone or every third person said they had smoked more since then.
At 71 percent, they are the most frequently used addictive substances.
Everyone or every sixth person in the age group smokes shisha, and every twelfth person uses illegal drugs such as cannabis.
"An increased coolness factor as well as stress and boredom are among the most common reasons why young people in particular drink and smoke," said Michael Falkenstein from the KKH.
The lockdown in March made boredom and with it the consumption of cigarettes, alcohol and other drugs increased.
At the same time, intoxicants are a kind of coping mechanism for many.
"The great danger here is that the increased consumption during a difficult phase becomes a habit and thus an even higher risk of addiction arises," warned Falkenstein.
In general, the abusive consumption of alcohol and tobacco among insured persons has been increasing for years, according to the KKH.
From 2009 to 2019, the number of people who received medical treatment for addiction or withdrawal symptoms, for example, increased by almost 37 percent for excessive binge drinking.
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fdi / AFP
