Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco
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This study assessed smokers' beliefs about nicotine and the safety of nicotine medications and examined how these beliefs influence the use of nicotine medications. The data for this paper came from a nationally representative, random-digit-dialed telephone survey of 1,046 adults (18 years of age and older) current cigarette smokers conducted between May and September 2001. Respondents were questioned about their use of stop smoking medications, beliefs about nicotine, and the safety/efficacy of nicotine medications. ⋯ Approximately half incorrectly reported that the reduction in nicotine in cigarettes has made cigarettes less dangerous to health and only one-third correctly reported that nicotine patches were less likely to cause a heart attack than smoking cigarettes. Smokers who were more knowledgeable about the health risks of nicotine and the safety and efficacy of nicotine medications were more likely to report past use of nicotine medications. Misperceptions about the health risks of nicotine and the safety/efficacy of nicotine medications may discourage some smokers from considering the use of these medications to help them stop smoking.
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The analysis reported in this paper was conducted to further explore initially negative findings of a study intended to help orient the development, implementation, and evaluation of smoking cessation programs for junior college students. A total of 69 students (39 males and 30 females) participated in nine focus group discussions held at one French-speaking and one English-speaking college in central Montreal. Three groups consisted of ex-smokers, and the remainder were current smokers. ⋯ Second-level analysis of the focus group data suggested that the students' reactions to proposed smoking cessation interventions could be understood using Eriksonian developmental theory, in particular how the cessation programs could contribute to the process of consolidating personal and social identity. Implications for the design of cessation programs were then identified. The results of these exploratory analyses suggested that to attract and maintain participation of college students, smoking cessation interventions should not necessarily be centered on smoking but rather (a) provide opportunities and support for exploration of, and commitment to, personal and social identities that exclude smoking, (b) target naturally occurring social groups while responding to students' needs for social support and validation, and (c) help students cope with stress and life demands and not add to these.
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Menthol is the only tobacco additive promoted and advertised by the tobacco industry. Although a considerable body of research has examined the effects of menthol when it is administered alone and unburned, the effects of menthol when burned in cigarette smoke are more complex because it is administered in a matrix of more than 4,000 substances. ⋯ Subjective effects of smoothness and less harshness have been identified as reasons for menthol cigarette smoking, but findings have been inconclusive regarding the effect of menthol on carbon monoxide exposure and smoking topography parameters. Gaps in the research literature and future research areas include the following: (a) What is the role of menthol in tobacco reinforcement and addiction? (b) In the absence of nicotine, is menthol reinforcing? (c) Are the pharmacological and physiological effects of menthol mediated by a menthol-specific receptor or some other central nervous system-mediated action? (d) What are the influences of menthol and menthol metabolism on the metabolic activation and detoxification of carcinogens in tobacco smoke? and (e) Do differences exist in cigarette smoking topography in relation to the interaction of ethnicity, gender, and menthol cigarette preference? Answers to these questions will help to elucidate the function of menthol in cigarettes and its impact on smoking behavior.
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Application, function, and effects of menthol in cigarettes: a survey of tobacco industry documents.
Menthol cigarettes are the only cigarette market category identified by use of a flavor additive and constitute more than a quarter of the overall market. Menthol also is used at reduced levels in many nonmenthol brands. Public health research has suggested patterns of use of mentholated brands as a potential explanation for the health disparities between Black (largely menthol) and White (largely nonmenthol) smokers and has explored the effects of menthol on smoker behavior, consumption patterns, and consequent delivery of smoke constituents. ⋯ These effects include altered perception of tobacco smoke and its constituents via cooling, smoothing, and anesthetic effects; increased impact through stimulation of trigeminal receptors; interaction with nicotine controlling its perception, delivery, and uptake; and increased respiratory irritation and toxic effects. Further studies are needed to evaluate these findings. We conclude that the unique differences between menthol cigarettes and nonmenthol cigarettes must be considered in research, cessation treatment, and enactment of tobacco product regulations.
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A survey of the nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide (CO) levels in mainstream smoke from 21 brands of bidi cigarettes and five brands of traditional cigarettes was conducted using a variation of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) standardized cigarette smoking machine method. The primary difference between this method and the FTC method was a reduction of the 60-s puff interval to 15 s. The shorter puff interval was required to prevent the bidi cigarettes from self-extinguishing and may represent a closer approximation to human usage. ⋯ Thus, a filtered bidi cigarette brand does not provide any harm-reduction benefit that might result from a reduction in levels of tar, nicotine, and CO compared with an unfiltered variety. Our findings indicate that bidi cigarettes can deliver high levels of tar (77.9+/-9.5 mg/bidi), nicotine (2.7+/-.4 mg/bidi), and CO (39.2+/-5.7 mg/bidi). In comparison, traditional cigarettes smoked using the bidi cigarette protocol have lower tar and CO yields, but have nicotine deliveries comparable with bidi cigarettes.