Despite high cost, it's a stress reliever, many smokers say
Jump to full article: Chicago Tribune, 2009-08-25
Author: Dan Simmons Tribune reporter
Intro: Shannon has company. Despite recent laws that further limit where they can smoke, despite tax hikes that have made Chicago the second-most expensive place to smoke in the U.S., despite unyielding pressure from friends and family to quit, a sizable chunk of the population keeps lighting up.
In Illinois, adult men are more likely to smoke than women, while high school girls are more likely to smoke than boys. African-Americans smoke at the highest rate among ethnic groups, while Asian-Americans smoke at the lowest rate. The poor and less educated smoke at higher rates as well.
The group that smokes the most? The mentally ill. According to studies, people with mental illness smoke at nearly twice the rate as those without such disorders.
Studies have identified a common genetic vulnerability to both mental illness and nicotine addiction, said Brian Hitsman, an assistant professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University who researches tobacco use among psychiatric patients.
Beyond the physical addiction, smokers repeatedly pointed to the stress relief that smoking provides. . . .
But the habit isn't all that calming. For heavy smokers who can't get their fix, withdrawal symptoms including nervousness, irritability and restlessness can develop in as little as two hours, Hitsman said.
Like Shannon, Israel said she has made multiple attempts to quit. So have many others.
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