More people try to quit smoking during the corona pandemic

Covid-19 can hit hard on the lungs and a Chinese study has shown that smokers are at higher risk of getting seriously ill. Since then, the phones have been ringing hot on the Stop Smoking line.

- Many became frightened and called because they felt they had to stop bouncing. But now this week it feels a little calmer in tone. Such changes rarely get good when you are worried and do it in a way, says Annelie Johansson, operations manager at Sluta smoking line.

Since the end of March, calls have increased by more than 30 percent to the support line.

- We can probably say that the corona pandemic has a finger in the game. During Easter week there has been no difference compared to previous years, but this week the feeling is that there will be more calls again - even if it is too early to make a statement, says Annelie Johansson.

In April, Kronan's pharmacies sold 15 percent more nicotine patches compared to previous years.

But Apoteket and Apoteket Hjärtat have not noticed any significant difference in the sale of nicotine preparations.

- It's not a big increase but a certain increase in e-commerce, says Magnus Frisk, press contact at Apoteket.

At the online pharmacy Apotea, on the other hand, smoking products are at the top of what customers order home.

- Hand spirit and headache tablets are what we sell most of, as well as prescription medicine. But after that, it is smoke weaning, says Pär Svärdson, CEO of Apotea.

The largest increase is in Stockholm and among older men, says Pär Svärdson.

According to the Stop Smoking line, it is still too few weeks and calls to be able to draw some conclusions about whether there is an age group that calls more now or not. Their opinion so far is that people of all genders and ages call.

- Most of the people we've talked to raise the corona virus as a reason. Then maybe they have been thinking about quitting smoking anymore, which most people have done and then this pandemic comes as the last push.

Are you one of those who quit smoking? Contact us at minvardag@svt.se or read more here.