To better understand the various influences of COVID-19 on tobacco use, the authors examined three different tobacco user groups using qualitative methods. The authors held ten online focus groups with 61 adults from the Atlanta, GA area were held in October– November 2020: four with exclusive smokers, three with Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) users, and three with transitioning (recently quit or currently quitting) smokers and/or ENDS users. Smokers believe that cigarettes help them deal with the stresses and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This needs to be counteracted by educational campaigns to increase perceived harm of smoking, alternative stress-relief strategies, and mandated changes to the combusted tobacco products to make them less appealing.
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