Articles tagged with Tobacco
A recent study by Harvard School of Public Health found that nicotine replacement therapies are no more effective in helping smokers quit than quitting on their own. The study suggests that the FDA should only approve medications proven to be effective in long-term smoking cessation, and lower nicotine levels to reduce addiction.
A new UCSF analysis of tobacco industry documents reveals that Philip Morris USA manipulated data on the effects of additives in cigarettes, including menthol. The researchers found that hundreds of additives should be eliminated from cigarettes due to their potential to increase health risks for smokers.
Around 200 million people worldwide use illicit drugs each year, with the highest rates in developed countries. The global burden of disease due to drug use is similar to that caused by alcohol consumption in these nations.
A recent study reanalyzes data from 'Project MIX', finding that tobacco company Philip Morris obscured findings of toxicity by adjusting data. The authors also found significant increases in carcinogenic chemicals when additives were included.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a plant-derived vaccine for Ebola that provided strong immunological protection in a mouse model. The vaccine uses a DNA blueprint to convert tobacco plants into living pharmaceutical factories, producing a vaccine molecule that can be easily purified and administered.
A new study suggests that states could save substantial amounts of money by fully funding tobacco control programs, which have a sustained impact on cigarette demand. The programs would reduce Medicaid payments, medical costs, and lost productivity, resulting in long-term savings for the states.
A new 19-year study from Oregon State University reveals that fatherhood leads to significant decreases in crime, tobacco, and alcohol use in men. This finding suggests that becoming a father can be a transformative experience for men engaging in high-risk behavior.
Scientists at Virginia Tech and Purdue University have identified a distinct transporter, NUP1, used by tobacco plant cells for nicotine metabolism. This discovery provides new insight into the production of medicinal alkaloid compounds and could enable bioengineering of medicinal plants to produce optimal amounts.
Researchers found that patients and staff continue to smoke on hospital grounds, citing safety issues and lack of support. Hospitals should reframe smoking as an addiction requiring treatment, not just a personal choice.
A new study predicts that smoking could cause 18 million more cases of tuberculosis worldwide and 40 million additional deaths over the next 40 years. The research, led by UCSF, found that smoking raises the risk of contracting TB and death, making it a critical factor in population-wide TB rates.
Two UIC studies will investigate how mass media and tax/price affect tobacco use. One study measures exposure, search, and sharing of pro-anti-tobacco info to understand smoking behaviors. The other assesses policies impacting retail tobacco prices over a decade.
The Tobacco Control Act National Longitudinal Study of Tobacco Users will follow over 40,000 users of tobacco products and those at risk for tobacco use. The study aims to evaluate the impact of regulatory changes on risk perceptions and other tobacco-related attitudes.
A study found that smokers are twice as likely to have strokes and almost a decade younger when they do. Quitting smoking reduces stroke risks significantly within 18 months.
A new study reveals that tobacco companies were aware of cigarette radioactivity since the 1950s and conducted research on its effects. The industry used misleading statements to suppress information, including a technique that could have eliminated radioactive particles from tobacco.
The Lancet study finds that tobacco control measures immediately benefit health and reduce healthcare costs. The economic benefits of tobacco revenue are greatly offset by the savings from reduced smoking-related illnesses.
A new study suggests that implementing stronger tobacco control policies in the Netherlands could save up to 145,000 lives over the next 30 years. The MPOWER report recommends increasing taxes, banning smoking in public places, and providing cessation treatment to achieve this goal.
Experts argue that current film classification guidelines are inadequate and failing to control the impact on adolescents. Studies show a significant association between smoking depiction in films and increased risk of tobacco use among teenagers. The authors propose applying default 18 classification for all films containing smoking.
Researchers will examine the effectiveness of state and local anti-smoking programs across the US. The study aims to inform government policy decisions and allocate resources efficiently. Tobacco control in California has already saved over $86 billion in health costs.
Japan has seen a recent decline in mortality rates for adult men and women, falling behind countries like Sweden, Italy, and Australia. The main explanations for this trend include high tobacco consumption, rising body mass index, and increasing suicide rates.
A prospective cohort study found that post-myocardial infarction snus quitters had a significantly lower risk of total mortality compared to current users. The association was independent of smoking habits and partly explained by changes in lifestyle variables.
The Lancet editorial emphasizes the need for a Framework Convention on Obesity Control to address the growing epidemic. It highlights the importance of accurate monitoring and evaluation, system-wide approaches, and government leadership in combating obesity.
A study reveals how British American Tobacco used its corporate social responsibility programme to shape UK public health policy, highlighting the need for greater transparency in interactions between governments and industry. The authors argue that this approach has implications for other industrial sectors, such as alcohol and food.
Two articles argue that film rating recommendations can create an economic incentive for producers to avoid tobacco imagery in youth-rated films. In contrast, other experts disagree, citing concerns about censorship, confounding factors, and the effectiveness of adult classification, suggesting alternative approaches to address public ...
A report by public health researchers suggests that government subsidies for top-grossing US films with tobacco imagery can undermine tobacco prevention campaigns. The study estimates that £338 million of tax credits in Britain went to US-produced films with tobacco imagery between 2003 and 2009.
A University of California, San Francisco researcher found that taxpayer subsidies for films depicting smoking promote thousands of new teen smokers every year. In California, 70% of subsidized PG-13 movies depict smoking, highlighting the need to modernize the rating system and end subsidies for films promoting smoking.
A UCLA study found that smokers with alcohol, drug, and mental disorders are five times more likely to quit with help from their primary care physician. The study suggests targeting these patients for smoking cessation counseling to reduce tobacco-related healthcare costs.
A study by UCSD researchers reveals a rapid increase in hookah use among California youth aged 18-24, with most users smoking with friends. Hookah is perceived as a safer alternative to cigarettes despite being less healthy, prompting calls for laws to ban hookah lounges.
A meta-analysis of 4 million individuals found that women have a 25% higher risk of developing coronary heart disease compared to men who smoke. The longer a woman smokes, the higher her risk becomes.
A growing number of countries are supporting Australia's trailblazing stance on plain packaging, while others align themselves with the tobacco industry. The legislation aims to break the affiliation smokers have with a particular brand, helping them quit and prevent teenagers from becoming smokers.
Researchers argue that e-cigarettes are crude drug delivery systems for refined nicotine, posing safety concerns due to poor quality control and variability in nicotine content. The devices also have not been sufficiently evaluated in scientific studies, making them ineffective as quitting aids for smokers.
A new study found that varenicline, a commonly used smoking cessation drug, is associated with a 72% increased risk of serious adverse cardiovascular events. The research suggests that clinicians should carefully weigh the risks and benefits of using this medication for tobacco dependence treatment.
A Stanford study reveals that tobacco companies increase advertising and lower sale prices of menthol cigarettes in neighborhoods near California high schools with larger populations of African-American students. This 'predatory' marketing pattern aims to lure young African Americans into becoming smokers.
A study published in Addiction journal found that comprehensive anti-smoking policies in Australia, particularly those targeting adults, also reduced smoking rates among adolescents. The key to this effect lies in the sustained and well-funded nature of these programs, which directly influence young people's perceptions of smoking.
A new study from Concordia University and the University of Montreal found that preteens surrounded by smokers are more likely to develop symptoms of nicotine dependence. The study, which surveyed 327 sixth or seventh graders, also found that tweens who observe smoking in others are more likely to start smoking themselves.
The American Cancer Society's new report highlights successes and gaps in cancer prevention efforts, including stalled declines in smoking rates and underutilized cancer screening tests. Improving these numbers will require coordinated efforts to address social, economic, and legislative factors influencing individual health behaviors.
According to a new study, most African Americans and the general public support banning menthol in cigarettes, with 83% of African American smokers using these products. The study found that support for the ban was highest among African Americans under 24 years old (71.2%) and those with less than a high school diploma (64.7%).
A study of Aboriginal youth in Canada found they use tobacco, illicit drugs, and alcohol at higher rates than non-Aboriginal youth, leading to increased health risks. The research highlights the need for culturally appropriate smoking cessation and substance prevention programs targeting Aboriginal youth.
Researchers found that implementing a tobacco-free policy at an Ohio women's substance abuse treatment center led to a 28 percentage point decrease in program completion rates. The study suggests that smoking bans may pose challenges for treatment centers, but they are not a reason to abandon tobacco-free policies entirely.
A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that many parents with smoking habits in cars have a hard time enforcing no-smoking rules. The result is that children are exposed to toxic chemicals, which may cause severe asthma attacks and respiratory infections.
Global Bridges, a healthcare alliance for tobacco dependence treatment, is launching training in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The first training will engage 15 health care professionals from Jordan and focus on culturally appropriate tobacco dependence treatment.
A healthcare alliance has launched a training program in Mexico to address the significant rates of tobacco usage in Latin America. The program aims to enhance access to proven treatment methods and promote effective tobacco control policies across the region.
A research study by the Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid found that women are more likely to self-medicate than men in Spain. The study, published in Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, revealed that 20.17% of Spaniards use medication without a medical prescription, with women accounting for 16.93% of those cases.
A growing proportion of young people are using hookah water pipes despite misconceptions about its safety. Family habits, such as father or sibling smoking, significantly increase the likelihood of hookah use.
A University of Missouri study found that teaching refusal skills can help minority youths resist tobacco use, particularly those from American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. These skills are crucial in countering the high rates of smoking among AI/AN youths, who have a greater lifetime smoking rate than other racial groups.
The Lancet NCD Action Group and the NCD Alliance recommend five priority interventions: reducing tobacco use, lowering salt intake, improving diets, reducing hazardous alcohol intake, and increasing access to essential drugs. These actions aim to reduce NCD death rates by 2% per year, avoiding an estimated 36 million deaths over 10 years.
A study by Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center found that 40.3% of college students reported smoking tobacco from a hookah, while 17.4% were current users. Hookah smokers mistakenly believed it to be safer than cigarette smoking, with some even using hookahs as their first tobacco product.
A new study reveals a previously unrecognized link between tobacco smoking and altered DNA methylation of the coagulation factor II receptor-like 3 (F2RL3) gene, possibly identifying an early stage of smoking-associated cardiovascular pathology.
The study found that dissolvable tobacco products contain mainly nicotine, which is linked to oral cancers and gum disease. The products also include flavoring ingredients, sweeteners, and binders that can increase the risk of tooth decay and liver damage.
The prevalence of heavy smokers in the US decreased significantly between 1965 and 2007, with California showing a greater decline. The study found that moderate- and high-intensity smoking rates declined more rapidly in California compared to the rest of the US.
A study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that residential treatment for tobacco dependence significantly increases the chances of long-term abstinence. Compared to standard outpatient treatment, residential patients showed a higher success rate, with 52% still not smoking after six months.
Researchers found that tobacco outlets in Buffalo and Niagara Falls are more concentrated around elementary and secondary schools, particularly in lower-income areas. This concentration may exacerbate socioeconomic disparities in tobacco use.
The tobacco industry is expanding its sales in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific, with Imperial Tobacco and Phillip Morris reporting increases in cigarette sales. The Lancet Editorial criticizes the companies' 'selling, addicting, and killing' business model, describing it as 'morally repugnant'.
A new study examines the effect of FDA regulations restricting outdoor tobacco advertising near schools and playgrounds. The researchers found that even smaller buffer zones would still affect a significant number of retailers, with up to 1.5 million pieces of outdoor tobacco advertising potentially removed across the country if a 1,00...
Researchers found a significant reduction in middle ear infection cases among children aged 6 and younger, associated with increased smoke-free households. The study suggests that avoiding secondhand smoking at home can protect children from the most common cause of visits to physicians and hospitals.
Researchers at Scripps Research and the University of Pennsylvania have received an $8.2 million grant to develop novel compounds that could become drug candidates for treating tobacco addiction. The project focuses on enhancing nicotinic receptors in the brain to reduce nicotine's positive impact on reward centers.
A study by the Smoking Control Unit of the Catalan Institute of Oncology confirms that Europe's anti-tobacco laws have a direct effect on reducing tobacco consumption and passive smoke exposure. The European Union countries with stricter controls on smoking show lower consumption rates, particularly in the UK, Ireland, Malta, and Sweden.
A new report concludes that electronic cigarettes are much safer than real cigarettes, with carcinogen levels up to 1,000 times lower. The study found e-cigarettes to be comparable in toxicity to conventional nicotine replacement products, offering a potential alternative to tobacco cigarettes.
Children living in apartments are at higher risk of tobacco smoke exposure due to shared ventilation systems or wall contamination. The study found that over 84% of children in multi-unit housing had been exposed to tobacco smoke, compared to 70% in detached houses.
Alexander V. Prokhorov, a behavioral scientist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, has been recognized for his innovative tobacco research and education programs targeting high-risk teens and young adults. His work includes developing video games and websites to teach healthy lifestyles and prevent tobacco use.
A study found that integrating smoking cessation treatment with mental health care for PTSD resulted in higher rates of prolonged smoking abstinence among military veterans. The treatment, known as integrated care (IC), was more effective than referral to specialized cessation treatment.