Research

Quit-smoking treatments safe, effective: Review
A new article in The Cochrane Library examines how nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), bupropion and varenicline compare with a placebo in helping smokers to achieve long-term smoking cessation. Researchers conducted an overview and network meta-analysis to further determine the effectiveness of smoking cessation treatments. The analysis included over 167 studies conducted between 2008 and 2012. Findings of the analysis indicate that individuals using NRT, varenicline, or bupropion had more successful quit attempts than individuals using no cessation medication. Of the three smoking treatments, varenicline was deemed most effective as it led to 28 people quitting for every 10 who did so without medication. Researchers state that further research is needed to determine the safety of varenicline, but not the efficacy and safety of NRTs. Click here to read more about the study or view the study abstract here.

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Reports

New Community Preventive Services Task Force recommendations
After in-depth reviews of the scientific evidence available on tobacco control interventions, the Community Preventive Services Task Force has released three new recommendations including increasing the unit price of tobacco products, mass-reach health communication interventions, and smoke-free policies. The new reports are part of the “Reducing Tobacco Use and Secondhand Smoke Exposure” guides that focus on preventing initiation of tobacco use, promoting quitting among adults and youth, eliminating secondhand smoke exposure, and identifying and eliminating tobacco-related disparities among population groups. The task force has also released updated guidelines for reducing out-of-pocket costs for tobacco cessation treatments and quitline interventions. Click here to view all the task force recommendations and findings for reducing tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure.  To view an announcement of the updated task force reports in the June 14th Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), click here.

SmokefreeVET – A text messaging program to help veterans stop smoking
SmokefreeVET, a new project announced by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and SmokeFree.gov, provides a mobile text messaging service for military veterans. The program is designed to provide encouragement, advice, and tips for smoking cessation. Users of SmokefreeVET receive 1-5 text messages a day over the course of a six to eight week program. The program is free of charge to veterans who receive health care through the VA. To learn more about the program or sign up, click here.

Facebook app from CDC: Be Smoke-Free – You Matter To Me!
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) announced a new Facebook application, “Be Smoke-Free—You Matter to Me!” The application aims to encourage smokers to quit smoking by highlighting stage-of-life milestones that smokers may miss if they continue to smoke. The app will also relay messages from Surgeon General’s Reports and include messaging from the CDC’s Tips from Former Smokers campaign. The application will also highlight quit holidays, such as New Year’s, World No Tobacco Day, and the Great American Smokeout. Click here to view the Facebook application.

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International

The cost—effectiveness of call-back counseling for smoking cessation (Australia)
In a recent study, researchers from the Deakin University in Australia examined the cost-effectiveness of call-back counseling for smoking cessation. Call-back counseling typically involves a series of structured or semi structured calls where advice is provided and simple cognitive behavioral therapy skills are taught. Study measures included a cost-effectiveness analysis and cost per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) of a call-back counseling service. The results of the study show call-back counseling is an effective smoking cessation intervention with significant net cost savings. The researchers conclude that call-back counseling is a cost-effective cessation intervention and can be used for a variety of populations. To read the study abstract in Tobacco Control, click here.

Rodeo "SWAP to STOP" sets up trading post to reduce tobacco use (Canada)
The Alberta/Northwest Territories Lung Association, Canadian Cancer Society, Action on Smoking and Health, McNeil Consumer Healthcare, and Miss Rodeo Canada announced the “SWAP to STOP” campaign taking place in summer 2013. The campaign, now in its second year, will tour rodeos across the province to encourage rodeo athletes and spectators to swap their cigarettes and smokeless tobacco for nicotine replacement gum and move toward a tobacco-free lifestyle. The campaign will set up at four rodeo events in Alberta over the summer and will be staffed by trained tobacco cessation experts. Currently, 40% of Canada’s tobacco is consumed in Alberta. Click here to read about the campaign kick-off or click here to read a press release from The Lung Association.

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