JERUSALEM — A study led by researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem was published in the Journal of Health Psychology. The study examined how exposure to reminders of the October 7 attack affected regular cannabis users and daily tobacco smokers in Israel.

The research, titled "The effect of collective trauma on craving for cannabis and tobacco," was led by Dr. Vera Skvirsky, Dr. Uri Lifshin, Maayan Yacubovitz, and Hila Avnit. It was based on terror management theory.

In the first experiment, moderate to high-risk cannabis users read an article about the October 7 attack along with recognizable images. A control group read an article about dental pain. Participants exposed to the October 7 material reported stronger cannabis cravings than those in the control group.

A second experiment applied the same method with daily tobacco smokers. Daily tobacco smokers reported an increase in nicotine cravings after exposure to reminders of collective trauma. Individuals with high attachment anxiety reported higher overall cravings.

Attachment security, self-esteem, national identity, and self-affirmation tasks did not reduce the immediate cravings triggered by trauma reminders. Dr. Lifshin stated that addictive behaviors are often connected with the need for psychological survival. "Our findings highlight how addictive behaviors are often deeply intertwined with our basic need for psychological survival," Lifshin said. "When people are reminded of a collective existential threat, the immediate urge to smoke isn't simply a physical habit. It is a rapid defensive response designed to push thoughts of mortality out of conscious awareness."

No independent assessment was available for this report.