Tougher Laws Decrease Suicide Risk for Smokers
Complaints abound about the new smoking laws: from bans against smoking in public spaces, to increases on sales tax on cigarettes, smokers say they’ve felt many outside repercussions for their habit. However, it turns out that these laws may do more than simply make smokers’ lives harder. Specifically, new research suggests that tougher laws on smoking can reduce the risk of suicide for smokers. This is great news, considering that the new study also found that smokers are at a 2 to 4 times greater risk of dying from suicide than non-smokers.
Smokers More Likely to Take Their Own Lives
Previous research has shown that smokers are more likely than non-smokers to take their own lives. Partially, this is because people with psychiatric conditions are more likely to be smokers than those who don’t smoke, but the new smoking study found a direct link between smoking and increased suicide risk. Study results suggested that for every dollar increase in cigarettes, the risk of suicide decreased by 10%. There were also decreases in suicide risk associated with indoor smoking bans.
Nicotine Linked to Suicide?
Although previous research has blamed outside factors such as a pre-existing psychiatric disorder and propensity to smoke, it turns out that it may be the active ingredient in cigarettes that creates the problem: nicotine. The new study authors hypothesize that nicotine is associated with changes in the neural pathways of the brain, or the pleasure centers. Like any addicting drug, cigarettes make people feel good, but when they become dependent on the drug to change their mood, this can lead to depression and anxiety. Luckily, fewer people than ever before are smoking, with an estimated 18% of the population smoking regularly. In comparison, in 1965, 42% of the population smoked regularly.
