Research on tobacco, smoking, and quitting. Covers vaping trends, the social side of smoking, headache links, and cessation methods.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Research suggests that children who grow up in smoking households experience small but lasting negative effects on their health, including higher blood pressure and heart rate. The study found that even though the children were not exposed to tobacco smoke at home, they still had higher baseline rates, putting them at risk for hyperten...
A recent study published in Addictive Behaviors found that women smoking menthol cigarettes inhale more deeply, resulting in higher nicotine exposure. The study also showed that these smokers tend to take their first cigarette earlier in the day, increasing their nicotine dependence.
The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the need for concerted action to reduce tobacco use among children. Tobacco control is a cultural struggle against tobacco companies targeting adolescents. Governments must take decisive actions to cut tobacco consumption, while supporting farmers and workers in the tobacco industry.
A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study found that more than two-thirds of animated feature films produced for children over the past 60 years display tobacco or alcohol use. The study examined nearly all G-rated animated films released between 1937 and 1997, including popular titles such as Disney and Warner Brothers films.
A recent study by Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center found that middle school-aged adolescents who begin smoking cigarettes at age 11 or younger engage in twice the number of risky behaviors that could end their life. These risk behaviors include substance abuse, violence, and suicidal thoughts.
A decade of anti-smoking campaigns in California show that aggressive ad campaigns exposing the tobacco industry's hypocrisy are key to success, while support from health advocacy groups is crucial for their effectiveness. The campaigns led to rapid drops in cigarette smoking in the state.
A Wake Forest University professor will assess a national campaign against smokeless tobacco, which has been linked to rising sales of moist snuff among baseball players. The study aims to determine the program's impact on major league baseball and its partners.
Scientists have identified a specific gene, the AH receptor, as a vital link in the chemical cascade that causes cancer when exposed to cigarette smoke. The study found that mice without this receptor showed no damage from cigarette smoke, suggesting it plays a crucial role in controlling gene damage.
Researchers at Virginia Tech successfully cultivated pharmaceutical-producing tobacco, with the goal of producing human proteins for use in pharmaceuticals. The high-density plant cultivation method produced encouraging data and demonstrated flexibility in tobacco varieties.
A new University of Michigan study investigates the impact of tobacco litigation on public health policy, concluding that courts are not well-suited for adopting policy changes. The authors argue that building a moral and political case is essential to achieve tobacco control goals through legislative and regulatory processes.
A survey of preschoolers found that those from smoke-free homes were less likely to want to smoke later in life. Children who saw pictures of smoking characters like Joe Camel incorrectly associated them with smoking, highlighting the influence of early exposure on attitudes towards smoking.
The tobacco control community was divided over the merits of providing legal protections to the tobacco industry, wasting time and credibility. Despite this, state and local tobacco control efforts are gaining momentum, with promise in class action litigation against tobacco manufacturers.
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft has published the List of MAK and BAT Values 1998, revising health risks from exposure to ethanol vapors and aerosols, as well as sidestream smoke. The new classifications include significant updates on carcinogenic substances, with 22 evaluations or revisions for human cancer risk.
Health ministers in the Americas call for urgent steps to regulate tobacco advertising and prevent minors' access, with a focus on educational, legislative, and fiscal measures. The region faces significant health and economic burdens due to tobacco use, with 670,000 deaths annually attributed to tobacco.
A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that prohibiting smoking in restaurants had no adverse economic effect on the industry. The research analyzed data from counties with strict smoking ordinances and compared it to similar counties without such laws, revealing no significant changes in restaurant sales.
A study by NIEHS found that variations in two genes (NAT1 and NAT2) interact with environmental exposure to tobacco smoke, increasing the risk of bladder cancer. Individuals carrying both at-risk copies of these genes have a tenfold higher risk of developing bladder cancer.
A study published in Nature found that people with a genetic defect that reduces nicotine metabolism are less likely to become smokers and smoke fewer cigarettes. The defect is present in 20% of non-smokers, compared to 10% of smokers.
A study discovered that individuals carrying a genetic variant in the CYP2A6 enzyme break down nicotine more slowly, leading to greater resistance to nicotine addiction. This finding suggests that medications targeting the enzyme may help prevent and treat nicotine addiction.
Infants of smoking mothers who breastfeed have higher urine levels of cotinine, a substance produced by nicotine breakdown, compared to bottle-fed children. The study highlights the importance of helping mothers quit smoking during pregnancy and nursing.
A study by the University of California - San Francisco found that tobacco industry campaign contributions have a substantial impact on state legislators' voting patterns, particularly in states with varying levels of partisan control. The researchers scored legislators on a scale from pro-tobacco to pro-public health and found that in...
A Duke University Medical Center pharmacologist finds that maternal smoking causes massive numbers of crib deaths and severe neurological problems in
A comprehensive review article by Stephen S. Hecht summarizes the biochemistry, biology, and carcinogenicity of tobacco-specific nitrosamines, linking them to lung cancer formation. The article highlights the importance of understanding these compounds for developing effective chemoprevention strategies and targeted prevention methods.
A new program aims to prevent smoking among children by providing interactive educational materials to parents of third-graders. The program has shown promising results in reducing the risk of smoking among young children.
Researchers identify genetic factors contributing to smoking propensity, suggesting a cluster of characteristics linked to biological sensitivity. The study refutes parental wisdom that getting sick after sneaking a cigarette deters future smoking.
Regular cigar smokers face almost double the risk of dying from all forms of cancer combined and certain circulatory conditions, including hypertensive heart disease and cardiomyopathy. Cigar smoke contains toxins such as carbon monoxide, benzene, and nicotine, which can lead to these health risks.
Researchers found that bluntness is key to reaching both children and adults through anti-smoking ads, with messages portraying tobacco industry manipulations being effective in kindling viewer responses. Effective ads also targeted concerns over addiction and illustrated the dangers of second-hand smoke.
A new study by UCSF researchers found that smoking in movies has returned to levels comparable to the 1960s, with pro-tobacco portrayals remaining prevalent. The incidence of smoking in films increased dramatically during the 1990s, exceeding real smoking rates and reinforcing misleading images.
A study of physician practices found that counseling smokers to quit was provided in only 16% of office visits in 1991, decreasing over time. Primary care physicians were more likely to counsel smokers or prescribe nicotine replacement than specialists.
A new analysis published by University of California - San Francisco researchers finds that a proposed deal between the tobacco industry and states' attorneys general would be less effective in promoting public health than no federal legislation. The report concludes that granting immunity to the industry and limiting liability would p...
A major study found that smoking speeds up the hardening of arteries, increasing stroke and heart attack risk. Quitting smoking can slow this process, but may not reverse existing damage.
A comprehensive study of middle-age Americans found that ex-smokers experienced faster progression of atherosclerosis compared to nonsmokers, despite having quit years before. The study suggests that the cumulative effect of smoking on arteries may be irreversible.
A study of 1,300 students in New Hampshire and Vermont reveals a strong link between owning promotional gear and increased smoking risk. Children who owned such items were four times more likely to smoke than those without them.
A new study found that even with enforcement of laws banning tobacco sales to minors, many youths continue to easily purchase tobacco products from merchants. The researchers suggest improving compliance by using more effective inspection methods and stricter penalties.
A study of state legislators in North Carolina, Texas, and Vermont found that most support stronger measures to prevent tobacco sales to minors. Many lawmakers would also support increased cigarette excise taxes under specific conditions, with revenues going towards helping tobacco farmers diversify their products.
A University of North Carolina study found that most NC police officers think the state law restricting tobacco sales to adults only should be changed due to its ineffectiveness in preventing youth access. Only a small percentage of officers try to enforce the law, citing barriers such as lack of manpower and poorly written legislation.
A Johns Hopkins study found that in 83 neighborhood stores, 86% of African-American and white teen buyers successfully purchased cigarettes, often with seductive advertisements targeting minors. The researchers suggest strengthening public awareness of tobacco's health hazards to prevent teen smoking.
Researchers studied 200 smokers who wanted to quit and found that those who smoked on their quit day were more likely to go back to smoking after six months. Nicotine patches can double the chances of long-term success, but only about one in four users remain smoke-free after six months.
Research suggests that light to moderate alcohol consumption can lower stroke risk by up to 62% compared to non-drinkers. However, excessive drinking and cigarette smoke increase the risk of stroke. The study found a strong association between passive smoking and an increased prevalence of silent brain lesions, which can lead to stroke.
Researchers identified how smokeless tobacco causes blood vessels to leak in the mouth leading to inflammation. The study found that exposure produces bradykinin, a potent pro-inflammatory peptide.