Boston is constantly proving itself as a leader in the prevention and cessation of smoking fatal tobacco products. In December, the Boston Parks and Recreation banned smoking from city-run public spaces and most recently, CVS – a local drug store staple – announced it would similarly quit the sale of cigarettes. But while some adverse to the idea of a smoking prohibition are crying foul, claiming it’s a deliberate obstruction of individual liberties, it turns out that Boston’s initiatives are actually beneficial to the mental health of smokers.
A new study out of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis shows a positive correlation between smokers suffering from mood-related illnesses like depression and an improvement in their mental health outcomes upon quitting their habit.
“We don’t know if their mental health improves first and then they are more motivated to quit smoking or if quitting smoking leads to an improvement in mental health,” said Patricia Cavazos-Rehg, an assistant professor of psychiatry who published the findings. “But either way, our findings show a strong link between quitting and a better psychiatric outlook.”
The National Epidemiologic Study on Alcohol and Related Conditions surveyed 35,000 people in the early 2000s. In the study, participants answered questions about drinking, smoking and mental health in two interviews conducted with a three-year gap in between. Cavazos-Rehg and her team analyzed the data of 4,800 daily smokers and found that those with either an addiction or mental health issue at the time of the first survey were less likely to have the same afflictions during the time of the survey three-years later.
Those who had addiction or other psychiatric problems at the time of the first survey were less likely to have those same problems three years later if they had quit smoking. What’s more, those who hadn’t had psychiatric problems at the initial survey were less likely to develop those problems later if they had already quit.
Of those 4,800 surveyed, 40 percent suffered from mood or anxiety disorders, or had a history of these problems. Also, about 50 percent of the daily smokers had alcohol problems, and some 24 percent similarly had drug problems. Of those, 42 percent who were unable to quit continued to experience their respective issues, compared to the 29 percent who ceased.
“We really need to spread the word and encourage doctors and patients to tackle these problems,” Cavazos-Rehg continued. “When a patient is ready to focus on other mental health issues, it may be an ideal time to address smoking cessation, too.”
So you see, Boston? Disallowing smoking on the likes of Boston Common and the Public Gardens isn’t only good for your physical health, but for your mental health too.
