Newly-published NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Quitting Smoking explains what the evidence and expert consensus is on how to best use the tools that exist to help anyone quit for good.
Tag: Smoking Cessation
Daily Use of E-Cigarettes Linked to Higher Cigarette Quit Rates, Roswell Park Research Shows
Adults who used e-cigarettes daily and also smoked combustible cigarettes were more likely to quit smoking than those who smoked but used e-cigarettes less frequently, new research from Roswell Park shows. The findings suggest that daily e-cigarette use may help some people to quit using combustible cigarettes.
Semaglutide may show promise for smoking cessation
New use of semaglutide was associated with a lower risk for medical care related to tobacco use disorder (TUD) in smokers with type 2 diabetes compared with 7 other anti-diabetes medications.
New Study Finds 40-Percent of Cancer Cases and Almost Half of all Deaths in the U.S. Linked to Modifiable Risk Factors
A new study led by researchers at the American Cancer Society finds four in 10 cancer cases and about one-half of all cancer deaths in adults 30 years old and older in the United States could be attributed to modifiable risk factors, including cigarette smoking, excess body weight, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, diet, and infections.
Smoking Is an Undertreated Risk Factor After a Cancer Diagnosis
Baseline survey results of a national quality improvement project led by the American College of Surgeons describe the many challenges and missed opportunities these centers may face when trying to help patients quit smoking.
Ochsner Health and Chevron partner for a third consecutive year to offer smoking cessation and education program
Ochsner Health and Chevron formed a key partnership for the Lung Cancer Awareness, Education and Prevention Program to improve lung health and overall wellness. This critical initiative launched in November 2021 in St. Tammany Parish. Since then, the two organizations have worked together to improve resources and education around smoking cessation and overall lung health.
Can e-cigarettes help people quit smoking?
E-cigarettes pose far fewer health risks to smokers than traditional, combustible cigarettes. Yet it has not been easy to convince people to switch to e-cigarettes. Robin Mermelstein, director of the Institute for Health Research and Policy at the University of Illinois…
MD Anderson Research Highlights for August 16, 2023
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Research Highlights showcases the latest breakthroughs in cancer care, research and prevention.
Where there’s smoke, there’s thiocyanate: McMaster researchers find tobacco users in Canada are exposed to higher levels of cyanide than other regions
Tobacco users in Canada are exposed to higher levels of cyanide than smokers in lower-income nations, according to a large-scale population health study from McMaster University.
March Tip Sheet From Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
A new study reported in JAMA Network Open unveils disparities in Mesothelioma survival, a grant to help construction workers nail quitting smoking, a new AI algorithm that offers insights into deadly cancer, a newly launched Neuroendocrine Tumors Program, a cancer researcher chosen to co-lead Tumor Biology Program and more are in this month’s tip sheet from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.
New Smoking Cessation Intervention Helps Patients with Cervical Cancer Precursor or Cervical Cancer Quit Smoking
In a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center researchers report that a new smoking cessation intervention increased the number of patients who quit smoking compared to standard cessation approaches.
Solutions to Tackling Smoking Rates
Much work needs to be done to change the United States smoking rate, Rutgers experts say on the occasion of the Great American Smokeout Nov. 17
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Leads Collaborative Effort to End Lung Cancer Related Stigmas
Stigma can have profound and lasting effects, and studies have shown that people living with lung cancer may encounter challenges in receiving the support they need from their social network and healthcare providers. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) is committed to helping eliminate the stigmas associated with a lung cancer diagnosis and is working to raise awareness in collaboration with other national organizations.
Reduced nicotine cigarettes result in less smoking in anxious, depressed smokers
Lowering the amount of nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels may reduce smoking without worsening mental health in smokers with mood or anxiety disorders, according to College of Medicine researchers.
Dr. Taghrid Asfar, a Known Expert on Reducing Tobacco Use & Related Deaths, Available to Media
Taghrid Asfar, M.D., M.S.P.H., Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Health System Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Population Health Sciences, Department of Public Health Sciences Dr. Asfar is an internationally known expert on reducing tobacco…
Cigarette Smoking More Prevalent – and Harder to Quit – Among Rural vs. Urban Americans
Cigarette smoking is more prevalent among Americans residing in rural areas and they also have a more difficult time quitting smoking than urban residents, according to a study involving Rutgers researchers.
E-cigarette use to reduce cigarette smoking may not increase nicotine dependence
A Penn State College of Medicine study suggests that electronic cigarettes may help people decrease their dependence on combustible cigarettes without increasing their overall nicotine dependence.
Health Risks of COVID-19 Spurred More Smokers to Quit
Being a smoker makes it more likely for a person to have severe COVID-19 symptoms, require hospitalization or die, which may explain a sharp decrease in smoking behavior among the Danish population during the pandemic, according to new research.
Study Shows Fewer People Tried to Quit Smoking During COVID-19 Pandemic
A new study led by researchers at the American Cancer Society shows serious smoking cessation activity declined among adults in the United States immediately after the onset of COVID-19 and persisted for over a year. Declines in attempts to quit smoking were largest among persons experiencing disproportionately negative outcomes during COVID-19, including Black people, people with comorbidities, middle-aged people, and lower educated people. The data was published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open.
To Reduce Smoking Rates in Prisons, Cessation Programs Must Be Expanded and Extended
Rutgers researchers find that for programs in prison to effectively curb smoking, at least four weeks of direct intervention is required, followed by months of substance dependence group counseling.
Varenicline increases smoking cessation rates for African American smokers
Researchers at The University of Kansas Cancer Center have released the results of a clinical trial that examined the effectiveness of varenicline in African Americans. In their study published in JAMA, African American daily smokers who were given varenicline while receiving counseling had significantly greater quit rates than those who received a placebo.
Smoke Break: UNLV Study Strengthens Link Between Smoking and Increased Fracture Risk in Men
It’s no secret that puffing cigarettes is the culprit behind a host of ailments, including respiratory diseases and throat cancer. But a new UNLV study reveals that male smokers — who, demographically, are more likely than women to light up — are also placing themselves at a significantly increased risk of osteoporosis, bone fractures, and early death.
Smoking-cessation program that targets cancer patients effective
Researchers at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found a way to help more patients who want to stop smoking. The successful strategy involves using electronic medical records to help identify smokers when they visit their oncologists and offering help with quitting during such visits.
New Research in JNCCN Encourages Harnessing Health Technology to Help Cancer Patients Quit Smoking
A new study in JNCCN finds patients with cancer who smoke are more likely to receive evidence-based cessation assistance by using the ELEVATE program, increasing the likelihood of better outcomes.
Many Physicians Have Misconceptions About E-Cigarettes
Many physicians incorrectly believe all tobacco products are equally harmful and thus are less likely to recommend e-cigarettes for people seeking to quit smoking or those being treated for a tobacco-caused disease, according to a Rutgers study.
Menthol ban would save 650,000 lives in the next 40 years
Banning menthol flavors in cigarettes could reduce smoking by 15% by having smokers giving up tobacco products altogether or switching to e-cigarettes and other nicotine vaping products—avoiding 16,250 tobacco-related deaths per year by 2060, according to a new University of Michigan study.
An Educational Intervention Can Help Vapers Use Their E-Cigarettes to Quit Smoking, Moffitt Study Finds
In a new article published in The Lancet Public Health, they report results from a first-of-its kind nationwide study evaluating a targeted intervention aimed at transforming dual users’ e-cigarettes from a product that might maintain smoking into a tool that can be used to aid smoking cessation.
New study to reveal health equity impacts of flavored tobacco bans
A new University of Kentucky College of Medicine study will examine how policies that restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products including menthol cigarettes impact health disparities among vulnerable populations.
Alcohol problems severely undertreated
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found that although the vast majority of people with alcohol use disorder see their doctors regularly for a range of issues, fewer than one in 10 ever get treatment to help curb their drinking.
FDA to ban menthol cigarettes: U-M experts available
The FDA has announced that it will ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars within the next year, a move the tobacco industry has pushed against for the last decade. University of Michigan experts can comment. David Mendez and Thuy Le…
WashU Expert: FDA menthol ban would benefit Black, younger Americans
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s proposed ban on menthol-flavored cigarettes and all flavored cigars could be particularly beneficial for Black and young people, says an expert on tobacco control at Washington University in St. Louis.“Around 80% of adult Black smokers and more than half of people age 18-34 use menthol brands,” said Todd Combs, research assistant professor at the Brown School who works on the Advancing Science & Practice in the Retail Environment (ASPiRE) project, which uses agent-based modeling to test the potential impact of retail tobacco policies.
UC San Diego Researcher Studying Menthol Cigarettes Talks about FDA Ban
On April 29, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proclaimed its ban on menthol cigarettes and all flavored cigars as a commitment to reduce addiction and youth experimentation, improve quitting among current smokers and address health disparities. Thanks…
Is raising the sales age of tobacco reducing youth smoking?
A new study, conducted by three UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers, studies young adult smoking trends three years after the start of California’s law raising the sales age of tobacco to 21.
Starting Smoking Cessation in Hospitalized Patients Would Reduce Many Premature Deaths
Each year in the U.S., about 30 million hospitalizations occur in individuals 18 and older. Of these, more than 7 million are current cigarette smokers whose average hospital stay is several days. Researchers say that starting smoking cessation therapy during hospitalization and maintaining high adherence post-discharge can markedly improve permanent quit rates in these patients with minimal to no side effects. Cessation therapy also should include long-term counseling and at least 90 days of a prescription drug, specifically, varenicline.
Study Finds High Prevalence of Smoking Among Surgery Patients
Almost a quarter of Michigan residents undergoing common surgical procedures also smoke.
Quit the Hookah! Lung Damage, Inflammation Is Reversible with Smoking Cessation
New research finds that quitting smoking is an effective way to resolve impaired lung function and airway inflammation associated with waterpipe smoking. The study is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology.
Electronic Nicotine Dispensing Systems: Recreational or Prescription Drug
February Issue of the American Journal of Public Health Special Section focuses on the impact of E-Cigarettes.
Scientists Discover Link Between Nicotine and Breast Cancer Metastasis
Scientists at Wake Forest School of Medicine have found that nicotine promotes the spread of breast cancer cells into the lungs.
Emotional dependency on smoking-vaping combo differs from just smoking
Researchers have known that emotions play a critical, but complex role in shaping dependency on smoking and vaping. Now, a team of researchers report that emotions that trigger dependency for people who both smoke and vape may be different from people who just smoke, a finding that may one day help scientists create more personalized programs to help people quit tobacco smoking and vaping.
Protect Your Bladder: Quit Smoking
Your bladder probably isn’t your favorite topic of conversation, but knowing when to talk to your doctor about it is crucial to your health. If you experience frequent and/or painful urination, or you notice blood in your urine, telling your primary care provider is the first step to diagnosing a problem and finding the right care. More often than not, these symptoms are caused by non-life-threatening conditions like urinary tract infection, overactive bladder or, in men, an enlarged prostate. But they also could be symptoms of bladder cancer, the sixth most common form of cancer in the United States.
American College of Surgeons panels warn vaping and marijuana use before an operation can be harmful
At panel discussions during the virtual ACS Clinical Congress 2020, experts underscored the importance of helping patients stop tobacco, vaping and marijuana use before having an operation.
ACS Clinical Congress 2020 | Virtual Press Activities Schedule
The American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2020 (Oct. 3-7) is a virtual-only event. Here’s the listing of next week’s activities for media attendees.
Tweets Show Vapers Rarely Use E-cigarettes to Quit Smoking or Improve Health
The vast majority of Twitter users who vape with JUUL e-cigarettes are not using the devices to stop smoking or to improve their health, according to a research team led by University of Utah Health scientists.
Studies: E-cigarettes Don’t Help Smokers Quit and They May Become Addicted to Vaping
Two UC San Diego School of Medicine-led analyses report that e-cigarettes are not effective in helping adults to quit smoking.
Tip Sheet: COVID-19 vaccines, COVID-19 and cancer patients, smoking cessation apps, structural racism in medicine – and more
Summaries of recent Fred Hutch research findings and other news with links for additional background and media contacts.
Experts Strongly Recommend Varenicline Over the Patch for Adult Smokers Hoping to Quit
Smoking cessation initiatives notwithstanding, along with provocative public health campaigns and clinical guidance, quitting tobacco has remained elusive for many smokers. The American Thoracic Society’s new clinical practice guideline on treatment for tobacco dependence in adults addresses how clinicians may deal with patients’ reluctance to quit, one of a number of issues not previously assessed in the older guidelines.
Smokers good at math are more likely to want to quit
For smokers who are better at math, the decision to quit just adds up, a new study suggests. Researchers found that smokers who scored higher on a test of math ability were more likely than others to say they intended to quit smoking.
Study finds evidence that loneliness makes it harder to quit smoking
In a study published today (15 June 2020) in Addiction, University of Bristol researchers have found evidence for a causal link between prolonged experience of loneliness and smoking.
Continued nicotine use promotes brain tumors in lung cancer patients, Wake Forest study suggests
Researchers at Wake Forest School of Medicine have discovered that nicotine promotes the spread of lung cancer cells into the brain, where they can form deadly metastatic tumors. The study, which will be published June 4 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM), suggests that nicotine replacement therapies may not be suitable strategies for lung cancer patients attempting to quit smoking. In addition, the researchers show that the naturally occurring drug parthenolide blocks nicotine-induced brain metastasis in mice, suggesting a potential therapeutic option in humans.
UniSA research uncovers treatment combo that sees smokers six times more likely to stop smoking and stay smoke-free
New research led by the University of South Australia has found that smokers who receive the medication varenicline tartrate combined with Quitline counselling following a period of hospitalisation due to a tobacco-related illness are six times more likely to quit smoking than those who attempt to stop without support.