"Raised stress levels lead to more smoking. It was not shocking to find that relationship after the hurricanes," said Alfred McAlister, a behavioral science professor at UT-Houston's School of Public Health and an author of the study said. He said the study shows teenagers turned to smoking to cope with the disruption. "The hurricanes had an emotional impact on the youth, and we need to recognize that and give them the help they need," McAlister said. Otherwise, they use tobacco as a crutch, and then they become addicted. Darah Waldrip, spokeswoman for Texas Tobacco Prevention said the program has been placing special attention on smoking in Jefferson County, which is along the upper Gulf Coast, by establishing comprehensive tobacco control programs in the schools and around the community. They also conduct outreach efforts such as the anti-tobacco advertisements.