A Theoretical Analysis of Smoking and Alcoholism

A mathematical model for the spread of alcoholism and smoking is designed and analysed to gain insights into this growing health and social problem. The reproduction number and equilibria states of the model are determined and their local asymptotic stabilities investigated. Analysis of the reproduction number have shown conditions under which encouraging and supporting moderate alcohol drinkers (smokers) to quit alcohol consumption (smoking) is more effective in the control of alcoholism (smoking) than supporting and encouraging alcoholics (smoking addicts) to quit and vice‐versa. Numerical simulations show that smoking greatly enhances alcoholism and vice‐versa. Thus, as shown by the numerics encouraging and supporting all smokers (alcohol drinkers) to quit smoking (alcohol drinking) also contribute meaningfully to alcohol (smoking) control programmes.