Alcohol and smoking could be making the North East’s mental health worse

15th May 2022

Alcohol and smoking can be making our mental health worse during an already stressful time – that’s the warning from health campaigners for Mental Health Awareness week (9 – 15 May).

Balance and Fresh are encouraging people to think about the impact smoking or alcohol can have on stress, anxiety and low mood as well as the cost of living.

Experts have warned that depression and anxiety levels soared during the Covid pandemic and could remain high for years. Uncertainty over the cost of living and worry about the war in Ukraine are also now adding pressures.

The theme of MHAW2022 is loneliness. Many people, especially those who are older drink to cope with loneliness while lonely people are more likely to smoke.

Here’s how:

Smoking increases anxiety and tension, even though people believe it eases the feelings of stress. This is because nicotine creates an immediate sense of relaxation, which quickly passes, leaving you with withdrawal symptoms and increased cravings.

Alcohol affects the chemistry of the brain and can worsen symptoms of many mental health problems. In particular, it can lead to poor sleep, low mood and worsen feelings of anxiety, especially those who find themselves drinking every day.

Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh and Balance, said: “These are unfortunately still very stressful times. Smoking and drinking can sometimes go hand-in-hand and one can often lead to the other.

Photo of Ailsa Rutter, Director of Fresh & Balance

“Stopping smoking and reducing your alcohol intake brings immediate benefits to your physical health and, in the longer term, helps to improve your mental wellbeing – ultimately making you happier.

“People with poor mental health die on average 10 to 20 years earlier than the general population, and smoking is the biggest cause of this life expectancy gap. The thought of stopping smoking can be daunting but there is lots of support out there from stop smoking services to nicotine replacement therapies, e-cigarettes and apps. For anyone thinking about quitting, just go for it, it’s the best thing you’ll ever do for your physical and mental health.”

Sue Taylor, Head of Alcohol Policy for Balance, said: “We know that many people drink because of the belief it will help manage stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health issues. If people are reaching for a drink most nights, alcohol consumption will creep up, which can have serious longer-term health consequences and make us feel more tired, anxious and sluggish in the short term.

Action on alcohol needed after 10-year gap

“We often under-estimate how much we are drinking, so that is why we are encouraging people to take more drink-free days and to stay within the low risk drinking guidelines of no more than 14 units a week. Keeping alcohol in check is an important way to protect your overall health and fitness.”

Professor Eilish Gilvarry, Consultant Psychiatrist in Addictions at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust, sees daily how closely linked alcohol, smoking and mental wellbeing are. One of the main reasons people say they drink or smoke is to help alleviate stress and anxiety.

Prof Eilish Gilvarry, consultant psychiatrist in Addictions at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Alcohol and tobacco are both drugs which can have a negative effect on our mental health as well as seriously harming our physical health.

“While it may feel like a way to unwind at the end of a long day, anyone who drinks regularly will know that it can make us feel low, more tired and washed out. If you smoke, you will understand only too well the feeling of tension and anxiety building every time you feel you need a cigarette.

“Whatever is happening in your life, breaking free from smoking and cutting down on drinking can make you feel calmer and happier, save you money and also bring a sense of achievement.”

Balance’s recent perceptions survey [1] found that nearly 4 in 10 North Easterners who drink (39%) say they do so to cope with stress, anxiety and depression.

Smoking increases anxiety and tension, even though people believe it eases the feelings of stress. This is because nicotine creates an immediate sense of relaxation, which quickly passes, leaving you with withdrawal symptoms and increased cravings.

Studies have found that stopping smoking can improve mood and mental health in just six weeks, with findings showing that smokers who’ve quit for a year are happier than current smokers. [2]

Watch Professor Eilish Gilvarry talk about how alcohol and smoking can affect your mental health: Smoking, Anxiety and Stress and Alcohol, Anxiety and Depression.

The facts:

Smoking and mental health

Some people smoke as ‘self-medication’ to ease feelings of stress. However, research has shown that smoking actually increases anxiety and tension. [3]
A review found people who stop smoking that quitting for at least 6 weeks may improve their mental wellbeing, by reducing anxiety, depression, and stress. [4]
Partly a result of high smoking rates, people with a health condition die earlier on average, with smoking is the single largest contributor to their 10-20-year reduced life expectancy.
For people with mood or anxiety disorders, the impact of quitting smoking is at least as effective as taking anti-depressants. [5]

Alcohol and mental health

Alcohol is sometimes used by people to try and help manage symptoms of anxiety and depression, but excessive drinking is likely to make those symptoms worse.
According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, regularly drinking alcohol affects the chemistry of the brain and can increase the risk of depression. Increased consumption can also affect our sleep, make us feel more tired and sluggish, and trap people in a cycle of feeling low and more anxious.
Post-drinking hangovers can be particularly difficult, with the usual headache and nausea being accompanied by feelings of depression and/or anxiety.
People who have done Dry January often talk about feeling more positive and alert.
Sticking to the Chief Medical Officer’s low risk guidelines of no more than 14 units a week can help – that’s about six pints of beer or lager or six standard glasses of wine.

References:

[1] North East Alcohol Perceptions Research, April 2022
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21906891/
[3] https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/s/smoking-and-mental-health
[4] https://www.cochrane.org/news/featured-review-stopping-smoking-linked-improved-mental-health
[5] https://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g1151