Research

Nicotine vaccines: Will smokers take a shot at quitting?
Research published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research shows that many smokers are interested in trying a nicotine vaccine as a cessation method, should one become available. To evaluate intention to use the vaccine and to determine if information about genetic susceptibility to addiction would alter interest, 427 adult smokers were randomized to read a description of a nicotine vaccine that framed addiction as either genetically or environmentally influenced. They were then asked about their intentions to use a nicotine vaccine, with 53% from both groups claiming they would be likely to try it; framing the messages differently had no effect on intention. Favorable attitudes toward a nicotine vaccine and toward vaccination in general were the strongest predictors of intention to try the vaccine. Click here to read the abstract.

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Reports

New report finds more smokers calling telephone quitlines but state budget cuts put progress at risk
A report by the North American Quitline Consortium (NAQC), titled U.S. Quitlines at a Crossroads: Utilization, Budget, and Service Trends 2005-2010, indicates that the number of tobacco users calling quitlines has increased by 116% nationwide between 2005 and 2009. According to NAQC’s survey of all publicly-funded quitlines in the U.S., quitlines have made great progress in financial and service capacity, but the total funding for U.S. quitlines decreased 7% in 2010, suggesting that budget cuts may threaten quitlines’ ability to meet the demand from smokers. Click here to read more, or click here for the full report. The report’s funder, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) offers a related podcast, “Reaching Out to Smokers,” on engaging smokers as consumers of smoking cessation services. Click here to access the podcast.

Cowboy culture change costs big money (WY)
The Wyoming Department of Public Health has replaced U.S. Smokeless Tobacco as the sponsor for Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD), the world’s largest outdoor rodeo. Chewing tobacco has long been considered a part of rodeo culture, but U.S. Smokeless Tobacco ended its partnership with CFD after 25 years. The Department of Public Health is using their opportunity to promote the Wyoming Quit Tobacco Program, which offers low-cost cessation medications and counseling. The $44,000 sponsorship came from the state’s Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund and federal money. Click here to read more, or visit the Wyoming Quit Tobacco Program website.

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International

The influence of occupational stress factors on nicotine dependence: a cross sectional study (Germany)
German researchers have found that higher occupational stress is associated with lessened nicotine dependence. The researchers examined data from 197 currently employed smokers who participated in the Cologne Smoking Study, which looked at genetic and psychosocial factors that lead to smokers having a heightened risk of cardiac infarction, lung cancer, and nicotine addiction. The results show that occupational stress factors are associated with lower levels of nicotine dependence, possibly because those with high job-related stress cannot smoke frequently due to a lack of free time or workplace smoking bans. Read the study abstract, published in Tobacco Induced Diseases.

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