Research finds that people who are deprived of life due to smoking are more likely to try to quit smoking but have lower success rates

2026/10/01 12:42

Research has found that people who are trapped in the "life deprivation caused by smoking" are more likely to try to quit smoking, but the success rate is lower; situational photo. (Picture taken from Freepik)

[Compiled by Chen Chengliang/Comprehensive Report] The cost of smoking may not only be harmful to health, but may also directly eat up family living expenses. A latest study from Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States analyzed 26,888 smokers and found that 18.3% of current smokers in Australia had spent money on cigarettes in 2024, resulting in insufficient funds to buy household necessities. The proportion was higher than that in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.

The medical news website Medical Xpress reported that the study, published in the journal Addiction, analyzed data on 26,888 adults in four countries who smoked at least once a month from 2016 to 2024. The research team calls the situation of being unable to afford daily necessities such as food due to the purchase of cigarettes "smoking-induced deprivation" (SID).

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In 2024, the proportion of Australian smokers experiencing such deprivation will be 18.3%, 14.3% in the UK, 13.0% in Canada, and 10.4% in the United States. Australia's proportion was 12% in 2016, rose to 22.7% in 2022, and fell back to 18.3% in 2024. Research has also found that lower income, lower education and higher nicotine dependence are all related to this lack of living.

People who spend money on cigarettes are more likely to want to quit, but have lower success rates

Longitudinal analysis of the study shows that people with "life deprivation caused by smoking" are more likely to try to quit smoking, but the success rate is lower. The success rate of quitting smoking was 9.4% for those who had experienced such difficulties, and 12.6% for those who had not experienced deprivation in life.

Research shows that smokers who are trapped in deprivation tend to have higher levels of smoking dependence and less confidence that they can successfully quit smoking. The study authors pointed out that although lowering cigarette prices or tobacco taxes may temporarily relieve the financial pressure of some smokers, it may also reduce the incentives to quit smoking. Therefore, they advocate investing tobacco tax revenue into smoking cessation drugs, behavioral support, and smoking cessation measures for high-risk groups.

The proportion of the overall population affected by such difficulties is on a downward trend. In 2016, about 1.9% of Australia's population experienced "living deprivation caused by smoking", which dropped to 1.7% in 2024 and further dropped to 1.5% in 2025, which is consistent with the declining trend of the smoking population during the same period.

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