Prof. Alejandro Videla

The negative effects of COVID-19 and smoking act in a synergistic way. The coexistence of smoking and COVID-19, and their deleterious effects fit the definition of a syndemic.
There are several lessons learned from fighting the pandemic that could apply to tobacco control.
The value of international scientific and resource cooperation.
Public policies affect individual behavior and drive healthy decisions. While lockdowns are associated with societal disruptions, they were also opportunities for smoking cessation. Preoccupation with personal health and lack of access to tobacco products were able to move smokers forward to quit in several countries. Smoke-free legislation, graphic warnings, and medical advice to quit are some policies that can facilitate the will to change. Even if the decision to quit is personal and individual, experience from many countries shows that environmental conditions affect the behavior of smokers.
Medical care using telemedicine resources - remote tools and virtual care- were successfully used to provide support for people affected by COVID-19. Real -time video communication software allows counselors to provide support to help people quit smoking.
The syndemic approach helps us to understand that tobacco control and COVID-19 control are related. Even when the infectious pandemic recedes, what we have learned from fighting it can help us promote effective tobacco control measures and reduce smoking prevalence over the world.