Cigarettes: Does Socioeconomic Status Drive the Urge to Smoke?

Abstract

Background:

An estimated 100 million people are homeless worldwide, approximately 19% smoke. The purpose of this research was to analyze if socioeconomic status influences individuals to start smoking, access to smoking cessation assistance and drivers behind start and starting smoking.

Methods:

The institutional IRB and homeless shelter leadership approved a 10 question descriptive survey inquiring about an individual's smoking history, knowledge of and accessibility to smoking cessation assistance, and socioeconomic background.

Results:

A total of 131 people completed the survey. Results were separated by shelter participants and online participants. Of the shelter participants (74.2%) claim income below the poverty line, while most (72%) of the participants in the online survey claim they are not. Approximately half (54.5%) of shelter adults self report as current smokers; most (89%) online participants are not. Nearly half (45.5%) of shelter participants claim regular smoker"; most (71.1%) of online participants report "never smokers". Participants online (20.5%) claim to be regular smoker only smoked 0-0.5 packs of cigarettes a day compared to shelter adults who more commonly smoked 1 pack or more. Both populations (61.5%, homeless; 65.5%, online) began smoking between ages 12-18. Common factors reported for starting to smoke (66.66%, homeless; 96.43% online) were friends and stress. Most (80.77% homeless; 76.67% online) either previously quit or currently want to quit. Few shelter residents (32%) are aware of formal support groups; similarly (35.48%) participants online claim that no support groups are available. Similar reports from both groups (35.7% homeless; 40% online) report quitting "cold turkey" to be most effective method. Less than half (31.8%) of participants from the shelter have an interest in quitting; many (68.9%) online participants already have quit. Few (25.8%) non-smoking participants from the shelter said it was health concerns that inhibited them from starting. Half of non-smoking online respondents (47.2%) claimed lack of interest kept them from starting.

Conclusions:

The survey results show that socioeconomic status may not play a role in why individuals start smoking. Both identified socioeconomic classes showed that ages 12-18 years was the most common age range to start smoking and reasons were due to peer pressure and stress. Quitting cold turkey is reported as the most effective method for smoking cessation. "