Research

Ability to quit smoking may depend on ADHD symptoms, researchers find
Tobacco cessation outcomes may be predicted by a person’s attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, according to a recent study in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research. Individuals with the symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity were less likely to succeed in quitting after eight weeks than those who did not have ADHD symptoms, or those who experienced only the ADHD symptom of inattention. Those with only the symptom of inattention had similar quit rates to smokers without ADHD. The findings of this study are highly relevant to cessation because tobacco use is more common among individuals with ADHD, compared to the general population. There is also evidence that nicotine can offset some of the symptoms of ADHD, and that tobacco use may be a form of self-medication for ADHD patients. For more information, click here.

Molecular switch in brain may end smokers' cravings
Researchers have found a neurological pathway that appears to be involved in nicotine cravings. Research with rats showed that blocking receptors for Hypocretin-1, or Orexin A, inhibits a biochemical mechanism associated with nicotine cravings. Previous research has linked hypocretin-1 receptors to addiction; hypocretin-1 receptors play a major role in the relapses of cocaine addicts. If the same biochemical pathway has significance in nicotine cravings in humans, a new strategy for cessation drugs could be to control nicotine cravings by blocking the mechanism that leads to cravings. Click here to read a summary of the article, which was published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

MyLastDip.com 
A unique resource to help young chewers and dippers aged 14-25 quit is now available: MyLastDip.com. Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and hosted by Oregon Research Institute (ORI), MyLastDip.com is a free, Web-based self-help quitting program offered as part of a research study by Oregon Research Institute. The MyLastDip.com program addresses the special difficulties faced by young chew and snuff users who have fewer quitting resources than smokers. All participants have access to a website containing effective information and quitting resources that have already helped thousands of chewers quit. Visit the website at here to learn more about the program and ongoing research, or email questions or comments to mylastdip@ori.org.  

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Reports

Federal transportation safety guidelines on Chantix
A recent statement from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) clarifies the federal safety policy for medication use by interstate commercial vehicle drivers. In cases where drivers are prescribed medications that may interfere with their ability to safely drive a commercial motor vehicle, the FMCSA defers to health care professionals to determine whether a driver is medically fit for duty. However, in light of the FDA’s recent medical advisory on Chantix, the FMCSA statement suggests that medical professionals should not certify drivers taking Chantix. Click here to read the statement.

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International

American Cancer Society launches quitline program in India
The American Cancer Society will soon become the first provider of tobacco quitline services in India. India implemented a comprehensive smokefree law in October, and as a result, there is an increased need for cessation counseling among the nation’s tobacco users, who make up approximately one third of the population. The new quitline service will be provided through multinational employers with operations in India. In the United States, the ACS quitline has worked with over 100 employers and health plans and 13 states to provide telephone-based cessation services and nicotine replacement therapy, and individuals completing the quitline program have achieved an impressive 6-month quit rate of 40%. Click here for more information.

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