Cessation

Research

Nicotine patch results in less relapse
A University of Pittsburgh researcher has demonstrated that smokers who are trying to quit by wearing the nicotine patch are less likely to relapse if they keep wearing the patch, despite occasional cheating episodes. The results are published in the May 2nd issue of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. For more information, click here.

Family intervention targets tobacco use prevention and cessation
Research published in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners cites the use of school nurses and nurse practitioners as being in pivotal positions to deliver family interventions that target children for tobacco use prevention and parent/guardian smokers for cessation. A tobacco prevention program for children was found to be effective in refusal skills and assertiveness among children, while at the same time, helping parents/guardians to quit smoking. View the abstract for additional information.

Blood test predicts success of quitting with nicotine patch
A study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania and published in the June issue of the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics found that a blood test measuring the rate at which nicotine is metabolized may enable doctors to predict which smokers using the nicotine patch are likely to experience the least amount of cravings and have the highest probability of success in quitting cigarettes. Click here to learn more about the study.

Gender and age disparities for cessation treatment
A study published in the May 2006 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine examines the relationship of gender and age to cessation treatment, finding that women and the elderly are less likely to be prescribed cessation medications. View the abstract for more information.

Smoking and cessation among individuals with COPD
A study examining data from the 1997-2002 National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS) found that only 50% of smokers with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) attempted to quit during the past year, and 85% were unsuccessful. More than 20% of smokers with COPD reported that they had not received advice to stop smoking while visiting a health professional during the past year. View the abstract for more information.

Study compares nicotine lozenges and patches
A smoking-cessation study comparing the effectiveness of nicotine patches and lozenges is under way at the Medical College of Georgia. Participants, who must be at least age 18 and smoke at least 10 cigarettes per day, will receive a 12-week supply of either replacement therapy as well as five counseling sessions. View a press release about the study for more information.

Costs and effectiveness of different benefit designs for treating tobacco dependence
Researchers with the University of California, Berkeley examined the costs and effectiveness of three different benefit designs for treating tobacco dependence: drugs only (nicotine replacement therapy patch, nasal spray, inhaler, and Zyban); drugs and counseling (drugs and proactive telephone counseling); and drugs if counseling (drugs conditional on enrollment in counseling). After eight months, there were no significant increases in quit attempts or quit rates in the groups with covered drugs and counseling compared to the group with drug coverage only. View the abstract for more information.

Smoking status in initial weeks of quitting as predictor of smoking-cessation outcomes in pregnant women
Researchers at the University of Vermont examined whether smoking during the initial 2 weeks of a quit attempt predicts cessation outcomes among pregnant women. Findings indicated that smoking in weeks 1 or 2 predicted smoking at the end-of pregnancy assessment independent of treatment condition. View the abstract for more information.

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Resources

Documents from NIH State-of-the-Science Conference on Tobacco Use now available online
To assess the latest evidence on tobacco use, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) recently convened a State-of-the-Science Conference on Tobacco Use: Prevention, Cessation, and Control. During the first day of the conference, the results of a systematic review of the literature commissioned by the Office of Medical Applications of Research (OMAR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) were examined and presentations by investigators were heard. On the second day, a 14-member independent panel convened to deliberate the evidence and develop a consensus statement. Key conclusions of the panel included that smoking cessation interventions/treatments such as nicotine replacement therapy, telephone quitlines, and counseling were individually effective, and even more effective in combination, and that there is strong evidence to support the effectiveness of economic strategies such as increasing the cost of tobacco products through taxes and reducing out-of-pocket costs for effective cessation therapies. The panel also focused on the effectiveness of targeting interventions to address health disparities and the importance of preventing initiation among youth. The draft statement, along with Webcasts from the conference and a press release, can be viewed here.

Fax-to-Quit Manual
The Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention has developed a step-by-step guide for healthcare organizations in Wisconsin to implement a fax referral system. Click here to view the manual. CTRI cannot provide hard copies of the manual and encourage members to download their own copy.

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National

FDA approves new smoking cessation medication
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Chantix (varenicline tartrate) tablets to help cigarette smokers stop smoking. Chantix works in two ways - by providing some nicotine effects to ease withdrawal symptoms and by blocking the pleasurable effects of nicotine from cigarettes if individuals resume smoking. Click here for more information and here to view a press release from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

American Legacy Foundation introduces “Healthy Monday” approach to smoking cessation
The American Legacy Foundation is suggesting to smokers that instead of trying to quit on a certain day of the year, such as New Year’s, they should plan to quit every Monday. The organization believes that by focusing on quitting once a week, the renewed commitment may give smokers a better chance of quitting. The idea was originated by a researcher at the Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, who is suggesting a wide range of Healthy Monday initiatives for a healthier lifestyle.View the release from Legacy for more information.

Consumer group calls for FDA intervention regarding laser therapy for cessation
Laser therapists claim that they can help smokers quit by preventing withdrawal symptoms. The laser, which looks like a large penlight and which is pressed close up to the skin, administers up to 450 milliwatts, just under the amount at which a doctor would be required to perform the treatment. Laser therapy has not been approved by the FDA for smoking cessation, although it has been approved to treat chronic pain. The consumer group Public Citizen has petitioned the FDA to intervene, as there is a prohibition on the marketing of FDA-regulated products for unapproved uses. Click here for a press release from Public Citizen regarding the petition and here for more information on the claims made by laser therapy companies.

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States

Alabama:

Alabama Quitline makes nicotine patches available
The Alabama Tobacco Quitline is now offerng a two-week supply of the nicotine patch to eligible callers. Click here to learn more.

California:

Expert says California likely to be only state to meet HP2010 cessation goals
An article in the British Medical Journal discusses a statement made at the NIH State-of-the Science Conference on Tobacco Use that California, as a result of its ban on smoking in public and aggressive education and intervention campaigns, is likely to be the only state that will meet government targets on smoking cessation published in Healthy People 2010. Click here to view part of the article.

Georgia:

Nicorette Stop Shop in Atlanta
A new Nicorette Stop Shop in Atlanta, GA offered free professional counseling, FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy and quit tools such as podcasts, videos, and a learning center during its grand opening week May 31st-June 4th The promotion prompted the Atlanta City Council to declare the week, “Atlanta Quit Smoking Week.” Click here to learn more.

Georgia Quitline callers pleased
A survey conducted by Georgia State University to evaluate the success of the Georgia Quitline, started in 2001, found that participants were pleased with the cessation program’s services and that quit rates are consistent with or better than national rates for similar statewide services. Click here for more information on the study.

Kentucky:

Kentucky’s cessation programs cut
Funds for Kentucky's Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program were recently cut by more than 75 percent due to a decrease in the state’s smoking rates. Click here for more information.

Massachusetts:

Massachusetts health care bill offers cessation incentives
Massachusetts has allotted $7 million per year for two years for classes to assist Medicaid recipients in quitting smoking. The provision is part of a new health care bill signed by the governor. The bill also allows private insurers to charger smokers high premiums than nonsmokers. Click here for additional information.

Minnesota:

MPAAT scores at ballparks with Quitplan(SM) services campaign
A new QUITPLAN (SM) services spot from the Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco has debuted on the JumboTron at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. In what appears to be a typical crowd shot on the JumboTron during a game, a man is seen dancing in the aisle to music. Unfortunately, his pants fall down but his quick-thinking wife covers him up as the tagline "Help is Good" appears. The next frames reveal the joke and promote quitplan.com online services. View the press release to learn more.

Montana:

Montana Tobacco Quit Line celebrates second anniversary with over 10,000 calls
Montana Health Department officials report that the state’s Quitline has fielded more than 10,000 since it debuted in 2004. Click here for more information.

New Jersey:

New Jersey's smoking ordinance encouraging residents to quit
The New Jersey Smoke-free Air Act, in effect since April 15th, is encouraging smokers to quit. This beneficial side effect is often seen when an ordinance is implemented due to the inconvenience of having to go outside for a cigarette and the absence of secondhand smoke serving as temptation. Smokers have been receiving help from state-funded quit centers, prompting the state to propose adding three more centers. Click here to learn more.

New York:

New York City distributes nicotine patch kits
New York City’s health department distributed 35,000 free nicotine patch kits through its 311 telephone hot line, reaching nearly one out of every 15 of the city's heavy smokers. Click here to learn more.

Washington:

CDC provides grant to curb smoking during pregnancy in Washington State
The Washington State Department of Health will utilize a $265,000 grant from the CDC to increase outreach to pregnant women who smoke. The funds will be used to increase resources to help pregnant women quit and to launch a educational outreach campaign. View the release for more information.

Wisconsin:

Wisconsin Smokers’ Health Study shows high quit rates
Early data from the Wisconsin Smokers' Health Study, conducted by the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (UW-CTRI) and funded by the National Institutes of Health, suggest that treatments provided in the study are producing some of the highest quit rates ever achieved. Among study participants receiving active medication, more than 60 percent have remained tobacco-free at the end of treatment. Click here to learn more about the study.

University of Wisconsin tests tobacco addiction vaccine
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are seeking 40 smokers to test a new vaccine designed to reduce the amount of nicotine that reaches the brain. The participants will receive counseling in addition to either the vaccine or a placebo. Click here to learn more.

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