Articles tagged with Tobacco
According to a University of Michigan study, teen cigarette smoking rates have declined significantly since the '90s. The Monitoring the Future survey found that 8th-12th graders showed statistically significant declines in current and daily smoking measures.
Children rated cartoon cigarette warnings significantly more believable than plain text, regardless of the message. Cartoon tobacco warning labels may be an effective way to reach children and adolescents, who are at increased risk of becoming regular smokers.
A new study by UCSF researchers found that California's tobacco control program prevented an estimated 33,300 heart-disease deaths during its first nine years. The program also associated with a significant reduction in cigarette consumption, but budget cuts and changes weakened the effort in the mid-1990s.
Researchers analyzed data from over 500 cases of bladder cancer and found that smoking increases the risk. Coffee drinkers who also consumed tobacco were three times less likely to develop bladder cancer than non-coffee drinking smokers.
Research in Tobacco Control found that young healthy smokers took more time off work than non-smokers, with a significant increase in hospital admissions and lost workdays. Men smokers were more likely to take time off work and be admitted to hospital, while women smokers had higher admission rates as well.
A survey of 300 smokers and nonsmokers aged 14-22 found that concern for others' health is a stronger motivator to quit smoking than fear of one's own health. The study suggests educating young people about secondhand smoke's effects and encouraging nonsmoking teens to speak out should be key elements of anti-tobacco programs.
A recent study found that young healthy smokers had substantially more lost work days than their non-smoking colleagues. The risk of lost work days was increased by 60% among men who smoked and by 15% among women smokers, with 14% of lost workdays among men and 3% of those among women directly linked to smoking.
A study found that household exposure to passive smoke is associated with lower serum concentrations of carotenoids and other micronutrients in non-smokers. This depletion may be due to cigarette smoke exposure, rather than shared inadequate diets, suggesting a possible causal link between passive smoking and nutrient deficiencies.
The University of California, San Francisco has launched a groundbreaking Spanish/English smoking cessation research program on the Internet. The program aims to recruit bilingual smokers from around the world and provide them with a comprehensive online resource to help them quit smoking.
A large-scale survey of over 65,000 people in Norway found that women are more susceptible to the damaging effects of cigarette smoke. Women reported higher rates of respiratory symptoms and asthma compared to men, particularly among those who smoked more cigarettes daily.
Researchers found that smokers with a past history of alcoholism have increased nicotine self-administration and rewarding effects, suggesting a link between the two addictive behaviors. The study suggests that medications to block nicotine dependence and counseling may be effective in helping these individuals quit smoking.
A new study published in Pediatrics reveals a strong link between teenage smoking and depressive symptoms, with non-depressed teens who smoke facing a four times greater risk. Social factors such as peer tobacco use, poor school performance, and parental report of bad temper also predict progression to heavy smoking.
A state-by-state analysis found that states with more extensive tobacco control policies had significantly lower youth smoking rates. Desirable legislation included enforcement of smoking age restrictions and photo ID requirements.
Research in Archives of Disease in Childhood found that around one in five young children were wheezy between 18-30 months, with the risk higher if the mother smoked during pregnancy. Smoking during pregnancy and environmental tobacco smoke are linked to an increased risk of wheezing and asthma in early childhood.
A study in Tobacco Control found that nicotine addiction symptoms appear within weeks of starting to smoke, rather than gradually. Almost two-thirds of smokers exhibited symptoms of dependency, with cravings and feelings of addiction being the most common initial symptoms.
Industry documents reveal little evidence of testing for the impact of additives on mainstream or sidestream smoke content or toxicity. The study highlights the importance of regulating tobacco additives to address public health concerns.
A study published in Tobacco Control found that symptoms of nicotine dependence can appear within four weeks or even just a few days of starting to smoke. The research team monitored over 700 teenagers and found that nearly two-thirds developed at least one symptom of addiction, with feeling addicted being the most common initial symptom.
A recent JAMA study found that nearly 46% of college students used tobacco products in the previous year, with cigar use being a significant contributor. The study also highlights the need for colleges to implement smoke-free policies to discourage tobacco use and protect nonsmokers.
A study found that controlling for education, occupation, and other factors did not substantially alter the death rate associated with tobacco smoking. The researchers' analysis used data from a large prospective cohort study and estimated 396,741 deaths attributable to smoking annually in the US.
A comprehensive youth-led prevention program in Florida has helped reduce cigarette smoking among middle and high school students. The program, implemented in 1998, resulted in a 40% decline in current cigarette use among middle school students and an 18% decrease among high school students over the two-year period.
College students are at risk of developing nicotine dependence due to the high prevalence of tobacco use, which includes smoking cigarettes and cigars. The study found that tobacco users also engage in other substance abuse behaviors, such as marijuana use and binge drinking.
Research finds that cigar smoking causes cancers of the lung and upper aerodigestive tract, with risks approaching those of cigarette smoking. Environmental cigar smoke contributes significantly to indoor air pollution, posing health hazards.
A study analyzing a maintenance use trial found that people who quit smoking using placebo cited overwhelming cravings as the most frequent reason for returning to smoking. In contrast, those treated with Zyban (bupropion HCl) Sustained-Release 150 mg Tablets, cited presence of other smokers and stress as top reasons.
A study of over 2,000 adult U.S. smokers found that those who perceive light and ultra light cigarettes as safer and producing milder sensations are less likely to quit. Researchers advocate for targeted cessation messages addressing these misconceptions to promote quitting efforts.
A 12-week study found that 49% of patients treated with Zyban had not used tobacco for the previous four weeks, compared to 26% in the placebo group. The three-month figures showed a slight increase in quit rates, but further research is needed.
Researchers have identified a compound in tobacco that inhibits an enzyme that breaks down key brain chemicals, potentially offering protection against Parkinson's disease. The discovery opens up new avenues of research and may lead to the development of neuroprotective compounds.
A study of 589 10-year-olds found that those exposed to tobacco in the womb were more likely to experiment with tobacco. Peer tobacco use, child delinquency, maternal depression, and child depression were also significant predictors of tobacco experimentation.
Researchers discovered toxic alkenylbenzenes in tobacco smoke, which can cause cancer and lung disease in humans. The compounds are more likely to affect health when filtered cigarettes' ventilation holes are blocked.
Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine report a significant increase in breast cancer risk among Eastern Band Cherokee women who use smokeless tobacco. The study found that the risk of breast cancer rose almost eightfold compared to non-users, highlighting potential health concerns with alternative nicotine products.
A new University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study suggests that benzene is responsible for between 8% and 48% of all smoking-induced leukemia deaths. The chemical also causes between 12% and 58% of smoking-related deaths from acute myeloid leukemia.
Towns that vigorously enforced youth tobacco laws had lower crime rates, including violent and property crime. The association suggests a potential link between strong enforcement and crime prevention.
A chemoprevention regimen containing myoinositol and dexamethasone has been shown to effectively prevent lung tumors in male mice exposed to cigarette smoke. The regimen worked when given daily during exposure or after the mice had returned to clean air, reducing tumor incidence by nearly 40%.
Two UC San Francisco scholars analyze a 10-year study on second-hand smoke and cancer, finding the tobacco industry launched an unprecedented misinformation campaign to undermine its findings. The campaign was aimed at slowing down smoking restrictions in European markets.
Scientists have identified a tobacco compound that may explain why smokers are less vulnerable to Parkinson's disease. The naphthoquinone derivative works by interfering with an enzyme in the brain that breaks down neurotransmitters.
A study of over 3300 schoolchildren found that babies exposed to their mothers' cigarette smoke while in the womb had poorer lung function. The effects were particularly noticeable on small airways and were more pronounced than those caused by environmental tobacco smoke exposure after birth.
A study of over 3300 schoolchildren reveals that exposure to maternal cigarette smoke during pregnancy significantly reduces lung function. The effects are particularly noticeable on small airways and airflow, with environmental tobacco smoke having a lesser impact.
A new test using a urine sample and written survey can help doctors identify adolescents who smoke cigarettes, allowing for early intervention. The test also identifies 'experimenters' - young people who smoke occasionally but haven't committed to the habit full-time.
A recent study by Wake Forest University School of Medicine reveals that 41% of tobacco farm workers experience green tobacco sickness, characterized by headache, nausea, and dizziness. The illness is linked to acute nicotine poisoning caused by contact with wet tobacco leaves, which is rapidly absorbed through the skin.
Two studies found that heavy smoking is linked to increased craving for illicit drugs, including cocaine and heroin. Researchers suggest that smoking cessation programs should be offered as part of other drug treatment programs to combat this trend.
Research funded by NIDA explores how craving tobacco increases urge to use illicit drugs. Studies found that smokers who use illegal drugs have a harder time quitting their drug habit than nonsmokers.
Researchers explore methods to prevent nicotine dependence and mitigate its effects, particularly among adolescents. Studies suggest a vaccine may help prevent tobacco addiction, while depression and delinquency are linked to the progression of tobacco dependence in young people.
A recent study found that nicotine increases alcohol consumption and may require simultaneous treatment for addiction. Nicotine activates the brain's nicotinic receptors, leading to dopamine release, similar to alcohol consumption.
A skills-based program can significantly increase a student's confidence in refusing an offer to smoke and their expectation that peers will accept the decision. However, it had little effect on objectively evaluating favorable images of smoking.
Research reveals that women experience greater relief from withdrawal symptoms after smoking compared to men. Smaller and shorter puffs by women may lead to less nicotine intake, making treatment more complex for female smokers.
A survey of South Carolina high schools found that suspending smokers may increase truancy and poor academic achievement. Tobacco education curricula are rarely employed, with only six percent of principals using cessation programs for students caught smoking.
A new nicotine vaccine has been developed to prevent and treat tobacco addiction by blocking nicotine from reaching the brain. The vaccine, which uses antibodies to bind to nicotine, has shown promising results in laboratory studies, reducing nicotine levels in the brain by up to 64%.
The Ontario Student Drug Use Survey reveals a significant increase in youth smoking rates to 28% this year. Meanwhile, adult smoking rates have decreased, but cigarettes remain accessible and affordable for minors, a major concern.
Researchers found that smokeless tobacco users exhibited slower learning and adjustment to new requirements, more jerks, and less accurate overall performance compared to non-smokers. Tobacco use on the job can reduce an individual's capability to learn new visuo-motor mapping.
Researchers from Brown University School of Medicine and Miriam Hospital found that individuals with a history of depression can successfully quit smoking, with an average reduction in smoking rate by 80%. However, those who quit may be at a higher risk of later relapse if depressive symptoms persist.
A large-scale study found that chewing tobacco users are more likely to develop dental caries, especially on the root surfaces of their teeth. The researchers suggest that high sugar content in chewing tobacco and its use pattern may contribute to tooth decay.
A study by Massachusetts General Hospital found that only 17% of office visits included smoking-related counseling for adolescents. The frequency of questioning about smoking habits did not improve during the study period, and younger nonwhite adolescents were less likely to receive counseling.
The University of Southern California has received a $12.8 million grant to establish a national center studying tobacco use and prevention among teen-agers from Pacific Rim cultures. Researchers will investigate how culture, immigration, and adaptation affect smoking habits and design effective ways to discourage smoking.
Seven research centers will study tobacco use, prevention, and treatment using a transdisciplinary approach. The centers aim to accelerate development of effective tobacco control interventions and reduce tobacco-related deaths.
A recent report from UC San Francisco reveals a decline in tobacco industry influence in California, with decreasing campaign contributions and revenue. The report finds that Republicans received 81% of tobacco money in the 1997-1998 election cycle, despite Democrats controlling both houses of the Legislature.
A new study reveals that prenatal exposure to higher levels of testosterone in pregnant smokers may predispose their daughters to develop a smoking habit as they age. Researchers analyzed data from over 240 pairs of mothers and daughters, finding no correlation between prenatal nicotine levels and later smoking behavior.
The Mangini Collection of 80,000 pages of documents chronicle R.J. Reynolds' struggle to hold onto market share as tobacco use declined, focusing on attracting young first-time smokers. The documents also reveal the company's efforts to refute findings that Joe Camel had a higher rate of recognition among schoolchildren than Mickey Mouse.
A study by Virginia Tech found that a $0.45 per-pack price increase for cigarettes leads to a 9% reduction in overall domestic consumption, with a notable impact on young smokers. The study suggests that the price hike will discourage youth from starting smoking and reduce existing habits.
A new study by Oregon Research Institute shows that dental hygienists can help patients quit chewing tobacco by providing cessation intervention. Quit rates tripled among those who received the intervention compared to usual care.
A new study by researchers at the University of California San Francisco found no correlation between smoke-free restaurant laws and decreased hotel revenue or tourist volume. In fact, some cities experienced statistically significant increases in hotel revenues and international tourist numbers after implementing such laws.
Smokers who abstain from cigarettes experience increased cravings but show improved reasoning skills upon resuming smoking. The study found that abstinence impairs certain mental tasks, such as letter search, while leaving others unchanged.