Research

Sudden attempts to quit smoking may be more successful
Counter intuitively, a study conducted by University College London has found that sudden attempts to quit smoking are more likely to be successful than planned ones. Researchers found that two thirds of smokers who stopped suddenly succeeded for at least six months, compared to under half of those who planned out their quit attempts in detail, perhaps because those delaying quitting had a less firm commitment. Click for more information.

Surgery may be best time to make a quit attempt
Quitting smoking immediately before surgery may increase the likelihood of success in that nicotine withdrawal symptoms are often masked due to the medications and therapies commonly used in surgery. Click for more information.

Gene related to smoking addiction
Two studies of smokers examined the gene CYP2A6, which codes for an enzyme that regulates nicotine metabolism in the body. For those who have an ineffective form of the gene, nicotine is metabolized more slowly and thus it takes longer for them to crave their next cigarette. Variations in the gene occur throughout the world, especially among Asian populations. In a study of Japanese smokers, those with a less effective form of the gene smoked less than those with the normal form. In a study of Canadian smokers, those with the ineffective forms also retained more nicotine for longer when using the patch. Click for more information.

Withdrawal symptoms may be eased by smell and taste of tobacco
Researchers have found that the smell and taste of nicotine-free cigarettes may be enough to suppress some tobacco withdrawal symptoms, including the urge to smoke, restlessness, hunger and a craving for sweets. They conclude that factors besides nicotine must contribute to suppressing withdrawal and may be a valuable addition to nicotine replacement therapy. Click to learn more.

Clinicians should encourage non-daily smokers to quit
A study published in the January 2006 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine discusses the issue of cessation among non-daily smokers, since there are currently no clear guidelines for clinicians working with this population. Using 2000 NHIS data, the researchers found that 1 in 5 smokers does not smoke daily and emphasize that these individuals should be targeted for cessation messages addressing the health risks of any smoking and situational triggers. They also found that non-daily smokers may be more likely to quit with brief interventions. Click to view the abstract.

Patient risk reduction for smoking in pregnancy
A research team led by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health examined the range of risk reduction behaviors among women who continue to smoke after learning of their pregnancy, including reduced tobacco use, eventual cessation, and cessation-promoting behaviors. Review the abstract, from the January issue of the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice.

FDA rejects drug as smoking-cessation aid
The Food and Drug Administration rejected rimonabant as a smoking-cessation drug. The company that make the drug, Sanofi-Aventis, sought permission to sell the drug both as a weight-loss drug and smoking-cessation treatment. The company plans to continue working with the FDA for approval. Click for more information.

Anti-tobacco advertising promotes cessation
An article in the November 2005 issue of Health Education Research shows increased exposure to state anti-tobacco media increases smoking cessation rates. Click for the abstract.

Advertising of smoking cessation products encourages smokers to attempt quitting
A study presented by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that when smokers are exposed to more advertising, they are more likely to attempt to quit and more likely to have a successful quit attempt. The study also suggests that advertisements for such products increase the probability of quitting without the use of any product. Click for more information.

Connecting physician offices to state quit lines
A study in the January 2006 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that connecting private physician offices to state-level quit lines can be accomplished at low cost and with minimal use of resources. The authors suggest that quit lines consider developing such a connection in order to increase utilization. Click to view the abstract.

Nicotine patch plus group support effective in helping women in public housing quit
A study conducted in an Augusta, GA public housing unit found that almost 50% of female smokers quit by the end of a six-week program including both the nicotine patch and group support sessions, while less than 8% of women in a comparison group had kicked the habit. Six months later, 27.5% were still not smoking, versus 5.7% in the comparison group. Click for more information.

Impact of smoking cessation aids and mass media on quit success
A study published in the March issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine evaluated the effect of televised ad campaigns promoting quitting and seven conventional types of cessation help. The researchers found that television advertisements were found to be the most helpful in the quitting process, particularly those featuring smoking-related illnesses or inspirational quit tips, and suggested that quitline resources be shifted toward a national anti-tobacco media campaign. Click for additional information.

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Tobacco Cessation Leadership Network launches new website
The Tobacco Cessation Leadership Network (TCLN) has launched a new website. The mission of the Network is to help increase the capacity in every state to establish effective, sustainable, and affordable cessation services. It seeks to do this by linking state and national cessation leaders to share information, resources and strategies. The website is a resource for existing information and tools for implementing comprehensive tobacco cessation initiatives, new implementation resources and tools developed through the Network and partners, and tuning into discussions about implementation issues through conference calls, online postings, and email exchanges. The website also offers the opportunity to join the Network through a quick and easy online or faxed application. The website now includes summary reports from the Network’s first two conference calls of the year, Trends in the Delivery and Reimbursement of Tobacco Dependence Treatment and Involving More Healthcare Providers in Tobacco Cessation: What Works.

CTFK inventory of cessation products (QuiTIP) updated
Click to view the Quitting and Reducing Tobacco Use Inventory of Products (QuiTIP) database, where over 100 products being sold in the U.S. and globally with the articulated intention to help people cease their tobacco use are catalogued. The database distinguishes between products approved for use as smoking cessation aids by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and all others (e.g., homeopathic, dietary supplements, etc.) and contains the following information on each product, in the manufacturer's own words - product name, manufacturer's name, manufacturer's address, product website address (if any), directions for use, warnings and disclaimers, ingredients (active and inactive), and claims. The database also includes links to the major evidence-based reviews for tobacco cessation products and services (e.g., Cochrane collection, PHS treatment guidelines, SRNT/WHO treatobacco.net). While the database does not include all products available to consumers (mainly due to budgetary limits for this project), it does contain an excellent, representative sample of products that are being sold to consumers as tobacco cessation aids with products in the database from a variety of countries (U.S., South Korea, U.K., New Zealand, etc.). The main intent of the database is to provide an easily accessible resource for researchers, clinicians/practitioners, the media and policy makers to learn more about these products, to begin the process of conducting more research on the safety, efficacy and effectiveness of these products, and to help identify those tools for which there already exists a substantial evidence-base as to their ability to help people quit using tobacco products. For questions about the database and/or ideas for additions to the database, please contact Matthew Barry, Senior Policy Analyst with the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, at MBarry@TobaccoFreeKids.org.

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Indiana:
 
Stop smoking Podcasts launched in Indiana
An Indiana tobacco control project has launched what may be the first stop smoking Podcast. The stop smoking Podcasts are daily 5 minute recordings which can be downloaded to an iPod or MP3 player. Click for more information.

Kentucky:
 
Quit and Win Contest increased quit rates in Kentucky
An article in the November/December 2005 issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion evaluated the impact of a Quit and Win contest on tobacco quit rates in Kentucky. Treatment group participants were significantly more likely than controls to experience quitting during the 1-year follow-up. Click to view the entire paper.

North Carolina:
 
Cessation program in NC targets smoking relatives of lung cancer patients
A new smoking cessation program called “Family Ties” provides stress management and coping skills to the smoking relatives of lung cancer patients. The program is sponsored by Duke University Medical Center, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the Durham VA Medical Center. Click for more information on the program.
 
Colleges in NC take part in tobacco-cessation campaign targeting age group
The N.C. Health and Wellness Trust Fund is working with over 30 colleges and community colleges to promote North Carolina's first-ever tobacco use cessation campaign aimed at 18 to 24 year olds. Click for more information.

North Dakota:
 
Free smoking cessation aids offered by North Dakota Quit Line for Valentine’s Day
As part of a special Valentine’s Day promotion, anyone who called the North Dakota Quit Line on February 14th received free smoking cessation aids, including nicotine patches. Click for more information.

Ohio:
 
Ohio insurers help smokers quit
SummaCare recently began to offer free nicotine patches in conjunction with the Ohio Tobacco Quit Line, a telephone-based tobacco cessation program. People who are enrolled in the health care plan are eligible for a free, eight-week supply of patches. Click for more information.

Oregon:
 
More Oregon insurers cover tobacco cessation
Three years ago, the Tobacco-Free Coalition of Oregon reported that few Oregon health plans routinely cover tobacco cessation programs. Even fewer plans covered medications that help smokers quit. Today, the ideology has shifted, with more health plans covering tobacco cessation. Today, employer health plans are more consumer-directed, with personal behavior becoming a factor in health costs for employers. Click for more information.

Washington:
 
Washington Tobacco Cessation Resource Center starts operation
Washington state’s new Tobacco Cessation Resource Center is providing resources, training, and support to local contractors who implement cessation and prevention campaigns in communities. The cessation center is operated under contract by Free and Clear, Inc. and Qualis Health. For more information, contact Julie Thompson at 360-236-3722 or juliet.thompson@doh.wa.gov.

West Virginia:
 
Governor of WV designates “Through with Chew Week”
West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin proclaimed February 12th through the
18th, 2006, as “Through With Chew Week,” encouraging all citizens to increase awareness of the illnesses caused by smokeless tobacco and all other tobacco products, and to offer compassion and assistance to people addicted to any tobacco product. Click for more information.

Wisconsin:
 
Cessation treatments studied in Wisconsin
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine plan to study 1,000 smokers from Milwaukee to compare how they respond to five different treatments, including the nicotine patch, the nicotine lozenge, combining the patch with the lozenge, Zyban alone, and Zyban plus the lozenge. Click for more information.

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