National

Smokers more likely to try e-cigarettes than nonsmokers
A recent survey that measured the American public’s use and awareness of e-cigarettes found that smokers were more likely to use e-cigarettes than nonsmokers. A team from Legacy’s Steven A. Schroeder Institute for Tobacco Research looked at two national surveys with about 6,000 adult participants, and the data show that there is a high awareness of e-cigarettes (40.2%), but overall use was fairly low. The researchers also found that younger smokers were more likely to have tried e-cigarettes than older smokers. Legacy’s findings suggest that smokers were more likely to try e-cigarettes due to the majority (over 70%) believing that they are safer than regular cigarettes. However, there is limited knowledge about the health effects of e-cigarettes and they are not yet regulated, which the researchers find concerning in light of the findings. Click here to read more about this report, or click here for the abstract of the article published in the American Journal of Public Health.

40 million Americans addicted to cigarettes, alcohol or drugs
A newly released report examines the missing link between addiction and medical practice in America. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University conducted a five-year national study that determined that forty million Americans ages twelve and older have some kind of addiction disease with either nicotine, alcohol, or other drugs. According to this report, only one tenth of those in need of treatment for alcohol or drug addiction actually receive it, and the numbers for cigarette addiction are not even known. The researchers’ comparison of financial investments in medical treatment for various health conditions suggests that the U.S. medical community is underserving people with addictions compared to other diseases that affect fewer people, such as diabetes and cancer (26 million and 19 million people, respectively). Click here to read more about this study. Click here to download the full report.

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International

People ignorant of cancers caused by smoking (United Kingdom)
A Cancer Research UK survey finds that a large number of people in the UK are not aware of the various types of cancers that are linked to smoking. Cancer Research UK performed an online survey with more than 4,000 adults in the UK, and reported that more than 80% of the respondents were unaware of the eight different cancers that are linked with cigarette smoking. The most common smoking-related cancers that were recognized by respondents were lung, mouth, and throat, and the least known associated cancers were leukemia and cancers of the liver, pancreas, bowel, kidney, bladder, cervix, and ovary. Tobacco has been associated with many types of cancer, and lack of knowledge of the health risks associated with tobacco use can influence whether someone chooses to use tobacco. The UK government has made an effort to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke by making pubs, bars, and public spaces smoke-free and is considering implementing a plain packaging law for cigarettes. Click here to read more about this survey.

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