Cessation

Research

Products That Promise Help Seem to Prolong Vices
A new study suggests that advertisements for products designed to help people stop smoking should carry a health warning of their own because so-called remedy advertisements have a boomerang effect. Click here for more information.

Nicotine Receptors Studied
According to study recently published in the Journal of Neuroscience, many smokers may need stronger doses of nicotine in replacement patches, gums and sprays to "keep all the nicotine receptors occupied in the short term before weaning off to lower doses.” There is evidence that replacement therapy only works for approximately half of those individuals who try it. Click here to learn more.

Quitting smoking causes more weight gain than previously thought
An article published in Health Services Research indicates that the average weight gain among former smokers who quit is 21 pounds.  The study involved a reanalysis of data from the 1998 Lung Health Study.  An initial analysis calculated the average weight gain at 12 pounds.  However, that study excluded morbidly obese smokers and didn't report racial and ethnic information, resulting in potentially faulty comparisons.  Click here to learn more.

Use of light cigarettes decreases odds of cessation
A study published in the American Journal of Public Health examined data from the 2000 National Health Interview Survey, finding that use of light cigarettes is common and is associated with decreased odds of current smoking cessation.  The analysis, conducted by the University of Pittsburgh and Harvard University, found that of 12,285 self-reported smokers, those who used light cigarettes were about 50 percent less likely to quit smoking than those who smoked non-light cigarettes. The effect was even stronger for adults over age 65.  Click here to view the abstract and here to view a press release.

Increasing social unacceptability of smoking reduces cigarette consumption
A study conducted by the University of California, San Francisco computed a social unacceptability index based on individuals' responses to questions regarding locations where smoking should be permitted.  Analysis showed that if an active tobacco control campaign changed an individual's views on smoking to more closely resemble that of California residents, there would be a 15% drop in cigarette consumption, equivalent to a $1.17 increase in the excise tax on cigarettes.  View the abstract to learn more.

Cochrane review examines effectiveness of telephone counseling for cessation
An updated Cochrane Systematic Review has found that proactive telephone counseling helps smokers quit, with evidence of a dose response relationship.  The review found that three or more calls increases the odds of quitting compared to a more minimal intervention.  Click here to view the abstract and here to learn more.

Vareniciline shown to be effective in recent studies
Several recent studies have found that the newly FDA-approved drug varenciline is more effective than bupropion or a placebo in assisting smokers in defeating nicotine addiction.  Click here and here for additional information.

UCSF conducting clinical trials on nicotine vaccine
The University of California, San Francisco is conducting clinical trials of NicVax, a vaccine that assists the body in building up antibodies that prevent nicotine from causing pleasurable sensations in the body.  An earlier study by Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, which developed the vaccine, showed that 40 percent of people who received the vaccine quit smoking, compared with 9 percent of people who got a placebo.  Click here to learn more.

Imaging study may help point toward more effective smoking cessation treatments
A study published in the August issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry reports on the results of a new imaging study, supported in part by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).  Researchers found that the amount of nicotine contained in just one puff of a cigarette can occupy about 30 percent of the brain's most common type of nicotine receptors, while three puffs of a cigarette can occupy about 70 percent of these receptors, suggesting that cessation medications need to be very potent to compete with these effects. View the press release for more information.

State anti-tobacco media messages increase cessation
A study in the July 2006 issue of Health Education Research found that increased exposure to state anti-tobacco television ads increases cessation among adults.  View the abstract for additional information.

Nurses effective in helping smokers quit
A report in Nursing Research reviews several studies indicating that nurses can play a large part in helping their patients to quit smoking.  One study found that patients given information by nurses on how and why to quit smoking were 50 percent more likely to stop. Another found that nurses can be especially effective because they are the health-care professionals usually seen by the medically underserved.  Click here for more information.

New research finds combination of helpline counseling and NRT successful
New research findings released in the August 2006 edition of the journal Tobacco Control demonstrate clearly that providing smokers with access to free counseling and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as patches and gum, significantly increases their odds of quitting. The study looked at the Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco's QUITPLAN Helpline as a case study. Through QUITPLAN services, Minnesota is one of only ten states that offer free counseling and NRT to tobacco users.

In Minnesota, the addition of free NRT to the QUITPLAN Helpline resulted in increased program participation and cessation rates that nearly doubled.  Click here to read the rest of the press release, and here to view the study abstract.

Smokers in chronic pain still have desire to quit
A University of Kentucky nurse and tobacco researcher found that smokers who are in chronic pain want to quit just as much as those who aren't.  The study also found that smokers in pain smoked more than those not experiencing pain.  The findings led the researchers to recommend strategies such as placing tobacco treatment programs within pain treatment clinics and making attempts to address pain issues as part of smoking cessation programs. The research is published in the June issue of Nicotine and Tobacco Research.  Click here for more information.

Media coverage of obesity higher than smoking cessation
A study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh and reported in the American Journal of Health Behavior has found that although major media outlets have aired more stories about obesity compared to smoking cessation over the past eight years, there is no correlation between the two.  Researchers posit that although there is still media attention focused on cessation, it may be that the topic is considered to be somewhat "old news."  Click here to learn more.

Stress hormones affect success of cessation efforts
A study presented at the 6^th International Congress of Neuroendocrinology in
Pittsburgh indicates that stress hormones such as cortisol may make it harder for some individuals to quit smoking.  Click here to learn more.

Attitudes about nicotine and nicotine replacement affect NRT utilization
A study published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research found that negative attitudes and false beliefs about nicotine and nicotine replacement may result in underutilization of NRT.  In a randomized, controlled, single-blind study of nicotine gum, such attitudes were systematically related to smoking characteristics, such as prior use of NRT, nicotine dependence, and treatment completion.  A brief tailored feedback intervention resulted in an elevation of attitudes, but such changes were not significantly related to gum use or cessation.  View the abstract for more information.

Failed quit attempt related to decrease in intensity of smoking
An analysis of data from the California Tobacco Survey demonstrates that the second most important predictor of change in intensity of smoking was whether or not a quit attempt had been made in the previous year (the most important predictor of change being intensity one year previously).  The effect of a quit attempt on the reduction in intensity of smoking suggests that periods of cessation may reduce the intensity of smoking and the level of addiction for several months following relapse.  The study was published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research.  View the abstract for more information.

Asthmatics' lungs benefit quickly from quitting smoking
Researchers from the U.K. have found that smokers with asthma who quit gain over 15% improvement in lung function in less than two months.  The findings are published in the July issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Click here for additional information.

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Resources

NAQC and ENQ releases Quitlines of North America and Europe publication
The North American Quitline Consortium (NAQC) and European Network of Quitlines (ENQ) have released Quitlines of North America and Europe 2006. The report provides the tobacco use control and cessation community with a never-before-published compilation of quitline operations and services in Canada, the United States, and the European Union. It contains a comprehensive overview of the mission and efforts of NAQC and ENQ, a one-page synopsis on important elements of the operation and services for nearly 90 open-access public quitlines throughout North America and Europe, and seminal resources and information in the field of tobacco cessation.

Presentation on fostering nursing research in tobacco cessation
A one-day invitational conference was recently held which evolved from the work of the Tobacco Free Nurses Initiative in promoting the role of nursing in tobacco control and in response to the recognition of potential contributions to the field from nursing research.  An article summarizing the recommendations from the conference, sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), is available online.  The agenda provides direction for growing nursing research in tobacco cessation, breaking down barriers to research, and supporting efforts for increasing utilization of evidence-based findings in clinical practice.  View the abstract for more information.

Through with Chew newsletter and survey
The May issue of the Through with Chew newsletter is now available.  In addition, the Through with Chew project has developed a national survey of spit tobacco projects (click on the "Take the 2006 National Spit Tobacco Survey!" link at the top of the home page).

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National

NYC Mayor Bloomberg donates $125 million to combat global tobacco use
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced that he will personally donate $125 million to create the "Worldwide Stop Smoking Initiative" to combat tobacco use internationally. Grantees have not yet been announced.  According to the Bloomberg press release, there will be four key components of this initiative with the goal of putting in place proven tobacco control policies and programs in countries around the world:

1. Refine and optimize tobacco programs to help smokers stop and prevent children from ever starting.
2. Support public sector efforts to pass and enforce key laws and implement effective policies, in particular to tax cigarettes, prevent smuggling, change the image of tobacco, and protect workers from exposure to other people's smoke.. 
3. Support advocates' efforts to educate communities about the harms of tobacco, and the potential and status of key programs to help make the world tobacco-free.
4. Develop a rigorous system to monitor the status of global tobacco use and tobacco-free programs, and track countries' progress in implementing key interventions.

Click here to learn more and here to view a press release from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Program helps deployed soldiers quit smoking
A smoking cessation program has been started to assist deployed soldiers, who often take up the habit due to long periods of downtime between missions and the availability of cigarettes.  Click here to learn more about the program.

NAQC announces founding Board of Directors
The North American Quitline Consortium (NAQC) is pleased to announce that it has incorporated as an independent nonprofit organization.  NAQC has established a founding board of directors that is committed to the organization's advancement and sustainability.  Please join NAQC in congratulating their founding board members:

For additional information, please visit www.NAQuitline.org or contact Linda A. Bailey, President and CEO, at Lbailey@americanlegacy.org or 602.595.3273.

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States

Arkansas
Arkansas Quitline experiences increase in calls since statewide ordinance implemented
For the past year, the University of Arkansas College of Public Health has offered a free statewide program to assist residents in their cessation efforts.  Now that Arkansas is a smoke-free state, the Quitline has been receiving an increased response.  Click here for additional information.

California
Researchers examine factors contributing to decline in smoking rate in California
An article published in Tobacco Control by researchers from the University of California, San Diego examines what proportion of the smoking decline during the implementation of California's comprehensive tobacco control program occurred from: (1) fewer ever smokers in the population, (2) more ever smokers quitting, and (3) current smokers smoking less.  They found that most of the decline in per capita cigarette consumption for the population as a whole was from current smokers smoking less followed by a reduction in ever smokers. The decline from smokers smoking less was particularly evident among young adults (18-29 years) in 1990-1996.  View the study abstract for more information.

Minnesota
MPAAT announces new QUITPLAN services centralized call center
The Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco has launched a new centralized call center for QUITPLAN Services. For the first time, callers will be able to receive information about all of the QUITPLAN stop-smoking options available to them through a single phone number-1-888-354-PLAN (7526).  Options will be based on their insurance coverage, community of residence and service preferences. If appropriate, they may also be given access to free nicotine patches, gum or lozenges through either the QUITPLAN Helpline or a QUITPLAN Center.  View the press release for more information.

New York
NY state health department releases cessation report
The New York State Health Department has released a report entitled Smoking Cessation in New York State, highlighting effective statewide strategies to promote tobacco cessation.

Oklahoma
Oklahoma State University receives grant to help smokers quit
Oklahoma State University has received a $500,000 grant from the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust to promote cessation on campus.  The grant will be used for cessation programming at the wellness center and for efforts to promote smoke-free environments on all OSU campuses.  Click here for additional information.

Tennessee
Nashville program works with children to promote parental quitting
A Nashville, Tennessee project titled REACH 2010 (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health), is part of a national effort to eliminate disparities in the health status of black and white Americans by 2010.  As part of the program, children are taught songs that they sing every time someone lights a cigarette in their presence, which has prompted parents to start inquiring about the effects of secondhand smoke on children and for information on quitting.  Click here to learn more.

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