Research

Vaccine to block nicotine
A Boca Raton-based biotechnology firm is attempting to develop a vaccine that would be the first to prevent the urge for nicotine among smokers. The vaccine, called NicVAX, will add to the sales of over-the-counter smoking-cessation treatments available to smokers who want to quit with a prescription medication, support groups, or other smoking-cessation products and programs. Click for more information.

New drug to help smokers quit
A new drug called Varenicline blocks the effects of nicotine. The drug, which is taken in the form of a pill, blocks the receptors in the brain which would normally respond to nicotine. A small clinical study of Varenicline at the University of Connecticut Health Center showed half of the smokers in the study quit smoking after seven weeks. Click for more information.

Patient preferences and cognitions affect cessation
A study in the August 2005 issue of Preventive Medicine investigates the impact of cognitive determinants and patients' preferences on the prediction of smoking cessation, finding that that socio-demographic and clinical factors did not predict smoking cessation, whereas social cognitions and preferences did. Click to view the abstract.

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American Lung Association revamps online cessation program
The American Lung Association has revamped its free online cessation program. Click for a program overview of Freedom from Smoking Online and to access the program.

Mayo Clinic offers group cessation program
Mayo Clinic’s Nicotine Dependence Center is now offering a group treatment option called Tobacco Independence Group to help people quit smoking. The six-week program may be useful for individuals who benefit from group support and flexible treatment options. Click for more information.

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Military offers cessation services
The rate of smoking among military personnel is 34 percent, while only 25 percent of Americans smoke cigarettes. The Defense Department is trying to make changes to lower the grim statistic. The department now offers smoking cessation classes in nearly all military medical treatment facilities, and nicotine-replacement therapies are available. Military primary care physicians have been advised to counsel patients who smoke. The Army and Air Force Exchange Service has discounted tobacco products by only five percent or less, to lower the incentive of purchasing on military installations. Click for more information.
 
American Cancer Society Sponsors Great American Smoke-Out November 17th
The American Cancer Society (ACS) holds the Great American Smokeout® each November to help smokers quit cigarettes for at least one day, in hopes they will quit forever. This year's event will be held on November 17, 2005. Click for more information on the history of the event and local activities in your area.

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California:
 
California governor vetoes bill requiring health insurance coverage for cessation
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed legislation that would have required all health insurance plans in California to provide coverage for medication and counseling to help smokers quit. In his veto message, the Governor stated that the legislation would have cost employers, health plans and individuals money. Click to view the Governor’s veto message. Click to read a response from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Maine:
 
Maine quitline receives record number of calls after tax increase
Calls to the Maine state quitline skyrocketed on September 17th, the day a $1.00 tax increase was implemented, doubling the state cigarette tax to $2.00. The line received five times as many calls that day as compared to prior to the tax. Calls increased by 30% just before implementation of the tax, and have remained at 50% higher than normal. Because the Maine Tobacco Helpline operates on a fixed budget, there is some concern about the impact of the increased call rate. Click for more information.

North Dakota:
 
North Dakota’s quitline has successful first year
Since North Dakota launched its state quitline in September 2004, almost 3,000 smokers have called and more than 800 have enrolled in counseling services offered. The six-month quit rate for users has been 39% thus far. Click for more information.

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