Quitting smoking can improve mental health, Ohio leaders say

On December 18, 2025 state health officials highlighted mounting evidence that quitting smoking delivers measurable mental health benefits, and urged Ohioans to use proven support services. Health leaders pointed to research showing that nicotine worsens stress and anxiety by hijacking the brain's stress response and that stopping tobacco use can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety within weeks.

State data from 2024 show that roughly one in four Ohio adults used a form of tobacco, with cigarettes remaining the most common product. Smoking prevalence was markedly higher among adults reporting frequent poor mental health at 24.2 percent compared with 11.9 percent among those with better mental health. That higher rate of use typically translates into more frequent smoking and stronger nicotine dependence, which in turn complicates recovery for people already managing mental health conditions.

Nicotine creates a temporary dopamine release while also activating stress hormones such as cortisol. As the high fades, acute withdrawal can produce irritability tension and heightened anxiety that drives further use. Breaking that cycle is a key pathway to long term wellness. Medical studies cited by state leaders indicate that quitting smoking can reduce depression and anxiety as effectively as some antidepressant treatments, and that anxiety levels can fall significantly within weeks after quitting.

Locally, Nicole Williams executive director of the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Wayne and Holmes Counties urged residents struggling with tobacco dependence to seek help and noted that people who quit often report better mood and more stable recovery trajectories. For Holmes County residents the stakes include both physical health and the social and economic burdens of nicotine dependence, especially among those facing limited access to mental health care.

Ohioans seeking help can call the Ohio Tobacco Quitline at 1 800 QUIT NOW for free confidential coaching and in many cases nicotine replacement therapy. Evidence shows callers to the Quitline are five times more likely to succeed than those who try to quit without support. Public health leaders say expanding access to cessation programs integrated with mental health services is essential to reduce disparities and improve community wellbeing.