Research

Elderly smokers more likely to deny smoking when asked
While eight percent of all smokers do not report their smoking to their physician, smokers over the age of 75 are the least likely to be truthful about their smoking.  Social norms may play a role in the accuracy of self-reports of smoking; non-Hispanic Whites increased their denial of smoking with age, but older Hispanic women were more likely to be truthful about their smoking.  The self-reported smoking habits of non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanic men did not fluctuate with age.  The researchers suggest that biomarkers such as cotinine be used to validate self-reports of smoking among research participants and in cases where accurately ascertaining smoke exposure is important.  Read more here.

Sad smokers less likely to quit after heart attack
The results of a recent study showed that smokers who have depressive symptoms during hospitalization for a heart attack are 2.4 times more likely to continue to smoke after their heart attack.  Because heart attack patients are at a high risk for depression, this finding brings up an important consideration for their care.  Smoking cessation medications and counseling may improve depressed patients’ success in attempting to quit smoking after a heart attack.  Click here for more information on this study.

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Reports

FDA issues Public Health Advisory on Chantix
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first released a preliminary caution regarding a potential association between Chantix and suicidal tendencies among its users in November 2007.  The FDA recently issued a more definitive Public Health Advisory reiterating the drug’s adverse side effects on mood.  While Chantix is still considered an effective smoking cessation aid, the FDA is working with Pfizer, the drug’s manufacturer, to create more prominent safety warnings in the drug’s labeling so that patients will be able to make an informed decision when taking Chantix.  Read the press release from the FDA here.

Marine Corps wages campaign against tobacco use
In response to increased smoking among the U.S. Marine Corps in recent years, the U.S. Department of Defense is in the midst of a campaign, “Quit Tobacco—Make Everyone Proud.”  The campaign targets military personnel aged 18-24, emphasizing their position as role models and sources of pride to siblings and other family members.  An interactive website and cessation counseling provide support to smokers attempting to quit. The campaign is completing its first phase and entering evaluation to determine how to proceed.  Click here to read more about the Marine Corps anti-smoking efforts.

State Medicaid Coverage for Tobacco-Dependence Treatments—United States, 2006
According to surveys by the Center for Health and Public Policy Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, state Medicaid programs need to increase their coverage of tobacco cessation treatments in order to meet Healthy People 2010 guidelines.  This Healthy People objective calls for all 51 Medicaid programs nationwide to cover proven tobacco cessation treatments.  In 2006, 39 states covered at least one type of cessation treatment, but only one state covered all recommended cessation methods.  Many Medicaid programs have limitations such as co-pays, prior authorization requirements, or a restricted duration of treatment.  This data was published in the February 8, 2008 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.  Read the report here.

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International

Smokers kicking habit after ban
British smokers have been quitting since the country enacted an indoor smoking ban in summer 2007.  Twenty eight percent more smokers successfully used the National Health Service’s Stop Smoking Services to quit in 2007 than in 2006.  While the data do not include smokers who attempted to quit with other methods or those who relapsed, the statistic is bolstered by an 11% drop in cigarette sales in July 2007 compared to the previous July.  It is unclear whether the smoking decline has continued more recently, but, “Even if some do eventually go back to smoking, the fact that others have permanently quit is what's important,” says Dr. Tim Crayford of the Association of Directors of Public Health. Read more here.

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