A quit smoking group says fewer people in Canterbury are trying to give up the habit since earthquakes began rattling the region.
The Quit Group says calls from Canterbury to its quit line have fallen from 14% of the national total before the September earthquake, to 9% now.
Research manager Bruce Bassett says many people have indicated that they havve started smoking again to cope with stress.
The Tobacco Control Research Centre says smokers usually quit when they have a secure lifestyle and time to commit to the decision.
But since the quakes, Dr Marewa Glover says that people's priorities have changed and their personal health has been put on the backburner.
