Research

Some social smokers find it difficult to quit
A new study in the American Journal of Public Health shows that there are differences in cessation intentions and attempts among groups of young adult social smokers. A total of 1,528 young adults aged 18-25 completed a web-based survey asking them about their smoking behaviors and cessation intentions. Of the 455 who identified as smokers, 62% were categorized as social smokers. Behavioral social smokers (those that reported smoking mainly or only with others, but did not identify themselves as “social smokers”) were 66% more likely to intend on quitting and 4.3 times more likely to make cessation attempts compared to those that self-identified as social smokers. The results indicate that cessation messages need to be tailored to these two groups, as there may be challenges in promoting cessation among self-reported social smokers, while behavioral social smokers may be more accepting of these interventions. Click here to read more, or click here to read the study abstract.

Genetic variation impacts brain opioid receptors in smokers
A new study shows that variations in the number of mu opioid receptors in the brain, which are associated with rewards and emotions, may influence one’s ability to quit smoking. Researchers used positron emission tomography (PET) to measure the number of mu opioid receptors in the brains of 22 smokers, and compared the results to the number of copies of genes coding for the receptors each had, as well as to their reported degree of reward from smoking. They found that there was an association between having a genetic variant that resulted in having more mu receptors than is typical and greater reported reward of smoking. The researchers hope that future studies will help translate information about receptor expression into guidance for smoking cessation. Click here to read more, or click here to read the study abstract, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Risk perception and motivation to quit smoking: A partial test of the Health Action Process Approach
According to a new study published in Addictive Behaviors, smokers intending to quit had different risk perceptions compared to smokers not intending to quit. Adult smokers were surveyed to determine their motivations to quit and their perceived smoking risks. The results showed that those intending to quit had higher perceived risks of smoking than those who were not intending to quit. Therefore, the researchers suggest that smokers’ motivation to quit could be increased through information and reminders about the negative health consequences of smoking. Read the study abstract here.

Early anti-smoking drug start seems better: Study
Starting the anti-smoking drug Chantix a month before quitting may make quit attempts more successful, according to a new study published in Archives of Internal Medicine. The researchers randomized 101 participants to receive either Chantix four weeks before quitting or sugar pills for the first three weeks and Chantix for the last week. After the first three weeks, those who received Chantix reported less pleasure from smoking, and 36.7% of those participants reduced the number of cigarettes smoked by half within the three week period. At three weeks, only one in ten of those receiving sugar pills reported a decrease in the number of cigarettes smoked. After three months, more than a third of those randomized to receive Chantix for four weeks before quitting had remained smoke-free compared to one in seven randomized to the sugar pill for the first three weeks. Researchers are optimistic about the effects of starting Chantix prior to the planned quit date, while emphasizing that future studies should observe the effects of Chantix over a longer period of time. Read more here, or click here to see the abstract.

Quit attempts and quit rates among menthol and nonmenthol smokers in the United States
A new study indicates that while menthol smokers are more likely to try to quit smoking than nonmenthol smokers, they are less likely to succeed in quitting. Nationally-representative data from the 2003 and 2006-2007 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey were used to compare quit attempts and quit rates among menthol and nonmenthol smokers. Analysis showed that menthol users’ quit attempts were 4.3% and 8.8% higher than nonmenthol smokers in 2003 and 2007, respectively. However, the chances of quitting were 3.5% lower for quitting in the past year and 6% lower for quitting in the past five years among menthol smokers compared to nonmenthol smokers. These findings imply that it may be more difficult for menthol smokers to quit smoking, which the authors say lends support to banning menthol in cigarettes. Click here to read the study abstract from the American Journal of Public Health.

The combined effect of behavioral intention and exposure to a smoke-free air law on taking measures to quit smoking
According to a longitudinal study published in Health Promotion Practice, smoking cessation campaigns should address both individual and environmental factors. Researchers interviewed 187 current smokers in Texan cities with and without comprehensive smoke-free air laws to determine their cigarette smoking habits and intentions to quit. Results showed that smokers with high intentions to quit who lived in a city with a comprehensive smoke-free air law had greater odds of taking measures to quit smoking than those with low intentions to quit and no exposure to a smoke-free air law. Based on these findings, both educational strategies and policy-based interventions should be used in creating a successful cessation campaigns. Read more here.

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