Research

Newly-defined factors may prevent postpartum smoking relapse
A recent study examined factors that help women remain smoke-free after quitting smoking during a pregnancy. More information is needed about these factors, since over half of pregnant women who quit smoking relapse by six months postpartum. Women in the study who remained nonsmokers postpartum were asked about benefits they experienced from quitting, their methods for handling temptations, and what support they needed to stay smoke free. Those who had relapsed described their perceptions about smoking and situations that led to their smoking. Women with strong social support in childrearing, such as a spouse to help with childrearing responsibilities were more likely to remain nonsmokers. Nonsmokers also were more likely to believe in their ability to control their smoking, have concrete ways of handling temptations to smoke, and mention the health benefits of being smoke free. Women who had returned to smoking were more likely to have easy access to cigarettes and rely on cigarettes to relieve stress. Click here to read more about the research, which appears in the August issue of the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

Study probes why smokers find it hard to quit
A recent study examined the phenomenon that smokers do not fully recognize the intensity of their nicotine cravings during times when they are not experiencing cravings. Thus, smokers trying to quit are likely to put themselves in situations where they are likely to give in to cravings when they do not realize the power of their cravings. Researchers compared the experiences of smokers who were in a “hot” state—a time when they were craving cigarettes—to smokers who were in a nicotine-satiated “cold” state. Smokers who were currently feeling the urge to smoke in a “hot” state were able to realistically predict their ability to abstain from smoking, but those in a “cold” state overestimated their ability to abstain. According to the researchers, these findings are not only relevant to cessation therapy, but also to understanding how first-time smokers become addicted. Since first time smokers have never experienced nicotine cravings, they too would be expected to underestimate the power of cravings. Click here to learn more. This research is published in the September issue of Psychological Science.

Researchers profile teens who seek help to quit smoking
Population-based studies have profiled teens who quit smoking, but few have described the characteristics of teens that enroll in tobacco cessation programs. A new study conducted by West Virginia University described the smoking habits and demographic characteristics of teens enrolled in the American Lung Association’s Not on Tobacco (N-O-T) program, the most commonly used teen smoking cessation intervention in the country. Compared to other teen smokers, N-O-T participants started smoking at a younger age, were more likely to use multiple tobacco products, showed more nicotine dependence, and had made more quit attempts. The information from this study will help the researchers identify the characteristics of teen smokers who are less likely to enroll in the program, and will allow marketers to better promote the intervention to these individuals. Click here for more information, or click here to access the research article, which was published in the journal Tobacco Induced Diseases.

Nicotine nasal spray a no-go for teen smokers
New research suggests that nicotine nasal spray may not be an appropriate cessation aid for teenage smokers. Although nasal spray is one of the most effective nicotine replacement therapies for adults, adolescents in a trial of nasal spray complained of unpleasant side effects, such as burning in their nostrils. Many teens discontinued nasal spray treatment or used it too rarely to be effective due to side effects. In fact, 57% of teens in the study stopped using the nasal spray after one week. After twelve weeks of study, the researchers found no differences in quit rates among teens who used nicotine nasal spray with cessation counseling compared to those who received only cessation counseling. Click here to read more. The research was published in the September issue of Pediatrics.

Ramadan fast means hard times for smokers
Muslims observing the fasting month of Ramadan are prohibited from eating, drinking, or smoking during daylight hours, and health groups are taking advantage of this temporary lifestyle change to help Muslim smokers quit for good. Britain’s National Health Service has included a Ramadan-oriented antismoking message on its website, and health advocates are visiting mosques to deliver nicotine replacement patches and lozenges. According to the director of the Islamic Medical Association of North America, support from religious leaders will be instrumental in delivering the antismoking message during Ramadan. Click here to learn more about cessation efforts targeting observers of Ramadan.

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Reports

WHO warns against use of electronic cigarettes
The World Health Organization recently warned against the use of electronic cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid. Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes for short, send a mist of nicotine into a smoker’s lungs from a refillable cartridge inside a metal chamber. Smokers have been able to skirt public smoking regulations by “smoking” e-cigarettes, since the device is not actually lit, and does not release smoke. However, the WHO warns that sufficient research has not been performed on e-cigarettes to show that they are truly less harmful than cigarettes, or that their effectiveness in helping smokers quit is comparable to proven cessation therapies. The WHO urges manufacturers to submit their products to rigorous clinical and toxicological studies to prove that their products are safe and effective. This matter will be addressed at the WHO Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation in November, and recommendations will be made to member states on tobacco product regulation. Read more here, or click here to view a press release from WHO on e-cigarettes.

Can Chantix make a comeback?
Pfizer has restarted Chantix advertisements after temporarily putting a hold on television advertisements amid FDA warnings and news reports questioning the product’s safety. The new advertisements run for 90 seconds, and devote 41 seconds to describing potential side effects including suicidal thoughts and behavior. Pfizer’s revamped advertising signifies the pharmaceutical industry’s increased responsiveness in addressing consumers’ concerns about drug safety. According to a member of the Chantix marketing team, the return of the advertisements came about because some consumers believed the product had been withdrawn from the market in the safety controversy, and because some are still not aware that it exists. Click here to learn more.

Health dept. distributes matchbooks with grim alert (NY)
In its new antismoking campaign, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is distributing free matchbooks to smokers. The drawback to the freebie is that the matchbooks are emblazoned with various grisly images and descriptions of health problems, such as tooth decay and blackened lungs, caused by smoking. Through the “Eating You Alive” campaign, the matchbooks will be distributed at 132 cigarette retail locations in neighborhoods where smoking rates remain high. According to health department officials, the campaign is the next best thing to putting the horrific images on cigarette packaging—a tactic several countries have used to discourage smoking. While warning labels have appeared on U.S. cigarette packaging since 1966, the current labeling law requires only a simple text box on the side of cigarette packs and in advertisements. Click here for more information on this health campaign.

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