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COVID-19 Pandemic and Tobacco Use

The spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the cause of the infectious disease known as COVID-19) and its variances in the United States in early 2020 evoked major public health concerns. It also led to shifts in people’s health behaviors including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and marijuana use.

At the same time, stay-at-home orders and fear of contracting COVID-19 led to reduced utilization of preventive services such as cancer screening and HPV vaccination during the pandemic.

Our Research Focus

The American Cancer Society (ACS) Tobacco Control Research (TCR) team monitored changes in health behaviors, including smoking and cancer screening, during the pandemic.