Research

Lower adult smoking rates and more adults quitting according to CDC study
A study published in the November 11th issue of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) demonstrates that the percentage of U.S. adults who smoke cigarettes continues to decline and more adults have successfully quit smoking than remain current smokers. The study estimates that 20.9%— 44.5 million people — are current smokers, down from 21.6% in 2003 and 22.5% in 2002. The report also indicates that the prevalence of heavy smoking (25 or more cigarettes per day) has declined over the past decade, from 19.1% of smokers in 1993 to 12.1% of smokers in 2004. Click to view the report.
 
In another study in the same issue of the MMWR, the 2004 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) reports that 50% or more of smokers had quit in 36 states/areas. In the majority of states, most adults have never been smokers and among those who have ever smoked, the majority have quit. In four states, Connecticut, California, Vermont, and Utah, 60% or more of smokers have quit smoking. Click to view this report.
 
Click for a press release from the American Legacy Foundation on the data, or to view a press release about the reports by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Best cities for tobacco cessation cited by GlaxoSmithKline
The best city for people trying to stop smoking is Minneapolis/St. Paul, according to GlaxoSmithKline’s Quit-Friendly Cities Index. The worst city for people trying to stop smoking is Atlanta, Georgia. The findings are based on key smoking cessation factors, such as cigarette taxes and lifestyle components such as access to exercise facilities. The top ten also include New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, Pittsburgh, San Francisco/Oakland, Seattle/Tacoma, Sacramento, and Philadelphia. Click for more information.

Vaccine developed against nicotine
The University of Nebraska Medical Center and University of Nebraska-Lincoln scientists are hoping to create a vaccine that will use the body’s immune system to create antibodies against nicotine. The vaccine is currently being tested with rats. Click for more information.

Many smokers fail to quit after being diagnosed with cancer
A study has found that despite the health risks of continuing to smoke after a cancer diagnosis, up to 50% of smokers who are diagnosed continue to smoke or fail at their attempt to quit. The authors of the report, published in the January 1, 2006 issue of Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, state that smoking cessation should be included as a key component of cancer management. Click for more information.

Gallup reports that most smokers in the U.S. want to quit
According to a new Gallup poll, most adults in the U.S. believe that smoking is detrimental to their health, with over 80% of those polled indicating that smoking is very harmful and over 50% indicating that secondhand smoke is harmful. The poll also indicated that more than 75% of smokers would like to quit. Click for more information on the poll.

Consumer Reports rates cessation methods
Consumer Reports Medical Guide has posted ratings of treatment options to help people who are battling nicotine addiction. Click for more information on the report, or to access the ratings. (A subscription is required to view the full report.)

Discussion of smokeless tobacco as harm reduction strategy for smokers
An editorial published in the Washington Times and a subsequent segment aired on ABC during its month of cessation programming on World News Tonight indicated that health experts are divided on whether to recommend the use of smokeless tobacco as a less dangerous alternative to smoking cigarettes. Whereas both products contain massive amounts of nicotine, smokeless tobacco does not cause diseases such as lung cancer or COPD, which are related to the smoke inhaled from a cigarette. Health experts state that the safest way to deliver nicotine to individuals trying to quit remains a patch or gum, but note that these methods deliver a far smaller amount of nicotine. The North American Quitline Consortium (NAQC) advises its quitline counselors that although use of spit tobacco is likely not as dangerous as smoking, complete abstinence is the safest alternative. They recommend that spit tobacco should not be used like NRT, as it has a much higher addiction potential than NRT and has not been approved by the FDA for smoking cessation.

top

Continuing education opportunity in treating tobacco use and dependence
Nurses, physicians, and pharmacists can obtain continuing education credits through a web-based program from the University of Wisconsin Medical School, “Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence.” The training contains on treating tobacco dependence, Public Health Service guidelines, pharmacotherapy, preventing relapse, and special populations. Click to access the course. (Registration required.)

AAFP “Ask and Act” tobacco cessation initiative for physicians
The American Academy of Family Physicians has a new tobacco cessation initiative, Ask and Act, which features online cessation materials for patients. The initiative encourages physicians to ask their patients about their tobacco use and then act on that information. Click for more information on the components of the program. The website contains information on reimbursement, office materials, continuing education, NRT, and other tobacco cessation topics.

top

Great American Smokeout took place November 17th
The American Cancer Society’s 29th Great American Smokeout took place nationwide on November 17th. Click for more information on the Great American Smokeout.

World Health Organization not accepting job applications from smokers
People who use any type of tobacco will not be recruited by the World Health Organization, according to the organization’s website. The site states, “This policy should be seen in the context of the organization’s credibility in promoting the principle of a tobacco-free environment.” Existing staff who use tobacco are encouraged to quit. Click for more information.

Legacy receives honorable mention from National Press Club
The American Legacy Foundation® was honored November 1st at the National Press Club when its Bob Quits and Mary Quits programs were recognized with an Honorable Mention award by PR News' Nonprofit PR Awards 2005. Click for additional information on the award and the programs.

top

Minnesota:
 
Minnesota QUITPLAN provided by Mayo Clinic Tobacco Quitline
The Mayo Clinic Tobacco Quitline was awarded a two-year contract by the Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco (MPAAT) to provide the state’s QUITPLAN Helpline, effective December 15th. Since its inception in 2001, Minnesota’s QUITPLAN cessation services has provided services for more than 39,000 residents. Click for more information.

North Carolina:
 
North Carolina newspaper bans employees from smoking
The Asheville Citizen-Times, a publishing branch of Gannet media located in North Carolina, is banning smoking for all staff members effective January 1, 2007. Employees will be given two opportunities to quit, and those who do not quit will be required to pay $50 additional for health insurance coverage. Click for more information.

North Dakota:
 
North Dakota quitline a success
Since its inception in September 2004, a total of 2,868 callers have received services from North Dakota’s Quitline, with 810 residents enrolling in the counseling program. The six-month quit rate is 39%, high compared to other types of cessation services. Click for more information.

Ohio:
 
Ohio company requires smokers to quit or lose jobs
The Scotts Miracle-Gro company in Marysville ,Ohio plans to hold down their insurance costs by requiring workers who smoke to quit by October 2006 or lose their jobs. Assisting with this effort is the purchase of a $5 million fitness and medical facility on the company’s campus. Scotts is only one of a growing number of companies refusing to hire smokers, requiring existing workers who smoke to quit, or having smokers pay higher insurance premiums. Click for more information.

Pennsylvania:
 
Montgomery County, PA employees offered cash bonuses to quit smoking
In an effort to cut the county’s health insurance costs, Montgomery County employees who wish to quit smoking may be paid. The county may also consider paying for nicotine gum and patches for county employees and their family members. Click for more information.

Vermont:
 
Vermont now offering Quitnet to residents
The Vermont Department of Health is now offering free online cessation services to its residents through Quitnet, a worldwide website designed to help people successfully quit smoking. Quitnet, which just celebrated its 10th anniversary, offers expert advice, information, and peer support to help stop smoking through an online community. Vermonters can click to access this national online resource and entering their ZIP code. Click for more information on the Vermont initiative. Also click for more information on Quitnet.

top

Back to Table of Contents