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Objectives. To examine differences in tobacco use and cessation between young adults (aged 18–24 years) and adults aged 25 years or older. Methods. We used data from the 2016 US National Health Interview Survey (n = 33 028) to identify 13 494 current and former cigarette smokers (562 aged 18–24 years; 12 932 aged 25 years or older). We analyzed correlations between age group, cigarette smoking, cessation behaviors, and other tobacco and nicotine use. Results. Among current and former smokers, those aged 18 to 24 years had lower odds of having quit for 1 year or longer and higher odds of having tried e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and smokeless tobacco compared with adults aged 25 years or older, as well as higher odds of daily e-cigarette and smokeless tobacco use. Young adult smokers used fewer cigarettes per day than did those aged 25 years or older (mean = 8.8 vs 12.3), had higher odds of making a past-year quit attempt (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.42), and had lower odds of having a health professional talk to them about smoking (AOR = 0.44). Conclusions. Greater experimentation with noncigarette products, lower cigarette consumption, and greater interest in quitting smoking invite novel intervention approaches to tobacco reduction, cessation, and relapse prevention in young adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Each year, nearly 2 in 5 cigarette smokers try to quit, but fewer than 10% succeed. Taking a multifaceted approach to examine the predictors of successfully quitting smoking, we identified factors associated with successful quitting so that cessation programs could be tailored to those at highest risk for relapse. Methods. Using data from the 2000 National Health Interview Survey, we employed multiple regression analysis to compare demographic, behavioral, and environmental characteristics of current smokers who tried unsuccessfully to quit in the previous 12 months with characteristics of those able to quit for at least 7 to 24 months before the survey. Results. Successful quitters were more likely than those unable to quit to have rules against smoking in their homes, less likely to have switched to light cigarettes for health concerns, and more likely to be aged 35 years or older, married or living with a partner, and non-Hispanic White, and to have at least a college education. Conclusions. Programs promoting smoking cessation might benefit by involving family or other household members to encourage smoke-free homes. (Am J Public Health. 2007;97:1503-1509. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2005.083527) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. We sought to identify prospective predictors of long-term abstinence versus relapse among individuals who quit smoking as young adults. Methods. Participants from an ongoing longitudinal study of smoking who had quit for at least 1 year between the ages of 18 and 24 years (n = 327) were divided into those who later reported not smoking for more than 5 years (long-term abstinence) or reported current smoking, defined as smoking at least monthly (relapse). Logistic regression was used to examine odds ratios (ORs) of prospective predictors of long-term abstinence versus relapse. Results. Overall, 67% of participants maintained long-term abstinence and 33% relapsed. The strongest predictor of avoiding relapse was marrying a nonsmoker (adjusted OR [AOR] = 0.07; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.03, 0.21). Other predictors included making 1 lifetime quit attempt (AOR = 0.13; 95% CI = 0.04, 0.44), having as a young adult only 1 parent who smoked (AOR = 0.23; 95% CI = 0.06, 0.93), and working in a completely smoke-free building (AOR = 0.13; 95% CI = 0.03, 0.58). Conclusions. The factors related to smoking in the social environment played the largest role in predicting long-term abstinence versus relapse. (Am J Public Health. 2007;97:1470-1475. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2006.101386) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. We sought to determine whether the educational backgrounds of young adult smokers (aged 18 to 24 years) affect their cessation attitudes or behaviors in ways that could be used to improve smoking interventions. Methods. We surveyed 5580 members of the HealthPartners health plan and conducted a follow-up survey 12 months later of current and former smokers. Respondents were divided into subgroups according to educational level. Results. Higher levels of education were associated with lower smoking rates (16% among students in 4-year colleges, 31% among those in technical or 2-year colleges, and 48% among those with a high school education or less) as well as less frequent or heavy smoking. However, number of quit attempts in the past year, level of interest in quitting, and smoking relapse rates did not vary according to educational level. Seventy-three percent of those who had attempted to quit had not used some form of assistance. Conclusions. Rates of smoking among young adults, especially those at low educational levels, are relatively high. However, most members of this age group are interested in quitting, regardless of educational background. (Am J Public Health. 2007;97:1421-1426. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2006.098491) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The purpose of the present study was to examines the role of self-exempting or cognitive dissonance-reducing beliefs about smoking and health. Such beliefs may hold important implications for the content and targeting of health promotion campaigns. Methods. A survey of smokers and ex-smokers was conducted in western Sydney, Australia. Six hypotheses were tested. Results. The principal findings were (1) that 27.9% of smokers and 42.1% of ex-smokers agreed that smokers were more likely than non-smokers to get five smoking-related diseases; (2) that for 11 or 14 beliefs tested, more smokers than ex-smokers agreed to a statistically significant degree; (3) that the median number of such beliefs agreed to by smokers was five, compared with three for ex-smokers; (4) that for only 5 of 14 beliefs was agreement expressed by more precontemplative smokers than smokers contemplating or taking action to quit (5) that more than one in four smokers, despite agreeing that smokers are more likely than non-smokers to get five diseases, nonetheless maintain a set of self-exempting beliefs. Conclusions. Fewer smokers than ex-smokers accept that smoking causes diseases, and smokers also maintain more self-exempting beliefs. Becoming and ex-smokers appears to involve shedding such beliefs in addition to accepting information about the diseases caused by smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental, self-report, and demographic factors mediated the relationship between self-reported cigarette smoking and carboxyhemoglobin among 2114 smokers and 3918 nonsmokers. Self-reported non-smokers with carboxyhemoglobin levels between 2% and 3% were more likely to be self-reported ex-smokers, to live in a larger community, and to be younger, less educated, and male than were self-reported nonsmokers with carboxy hemoglobin levels of less than 2%. Self-reported non-smokers with strong evidence of cigarette consumption (carboxyhemoglobin level ≥ 3%) were more likely to be self-reported ex-smokers, younger, less educated, and non-White than were nonsmokers with carboxyhemoglobin levels of less than 2%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The goals of this study were to measure the impact of cigarette smoking on cancer incidence and to determine the attributable risk of cancer due to smoking. Methods. A cigarette smoking history was obtained from 8006 Japanese-American men examined from 1965 through 1968. After 22 years 1389 incident cases of cancer were identified. There were 212 men with lung cancer; 202 with oral, esophageal, laryngeal, pancreatic, renal, ureteral, or bladder (oral-bladder) cancer; and 975 with cancer at other sites. Results. Current smokers at time of examination had a higher incidence than nonsmokers for each of three cancer site catetories. Eighty-five percent of lung cancer cases diagnosed among current and never smokers can be attributed to cigarette smoking. The attributable risks were 46%, 16% and 29%, respectively, for oral-bladder cancers, other cancers, and all cancers combined. In turn, the corresponding attributable risks were 60%, 26%, 13% and 21% in comparing current smokers with past smokers. Conclusions. Current smokers can greatly reduce their risk of cancer, especially lung cancer, if they quit smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Data from a cancer screening project among pattern makers were used to evaluate the association between tobacco smoking and prevalence of colon polyps. Methods: From 1981-1983, 549 White men were examined by flexible sigmoidoscopy and completed self-administered questionnaires including smoking histories. Results: One or more colon polyps were detected in 76 men. Standardized prevalence rates (SPR) for polyps increased by smoking category (never smoked = 0.094; ex-smokers = 0.118, current smokers = 0.214) and by cigarettes per day, years of smoking, and pack-years among both current and ex-smokers. Both adenomatous and hyperplastic polyps showed an association with smoking while other types of polyps and polyps with unspecified histology did not. The risk associated with smoking was greater for polyps greater than one centimeter in diameter. An interaction with occupational exposures was suggested by a greater increase in the SPR for polyps among current smokers employed as pattern makers for more than 10 years than among current smokers similarly employed for 10 years or less. Conclusions: Since at least some colon polyps are considered precursor lesions to colon cancer, one of the most common cancers in the United States, this report suggests that the possible link between colon polyps and smoking deserves further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of smoking among physicians has gradually declined over the past 25 years. Few recent studies have examined specific smoking habits. Of 393 physicians in the Minnesota Medical Association who responded to a survey (response rate of 83%), 9% reported smoking any form of tobacco. The prevalence of cigarette smoking was 4.9%, while 5.1% smoked a pipe and 2.1% smoked cigars. The prevalence estimates of current and former smokers were greater among men than women and among older than younger physicians. Cigarette and overall smoking prevalence among physician continues to be well below levels reported for the general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Validity of recalled cigarette data was assessed among 87 middle-aged adults by comparing recall to longitudinal records. Agreement on smoking status and amount smoked 20 years ago occurred for 87 per cent and 71 per cent of subjects, respectively. Corresponding proportions for 32-year recall were 84 per cent and 55 per cent. Gender did not influence recall accuracy. Ex-smokers tended to make the most errors. Accuracy of recalled smoking information 20 years ago was comparable to that of alcohol status and consumption frequency category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotinine was measured in the serum, saliva, and urine of nonsmokers, passive smokers, and active smokers. Serum and saliva could not discriminate between nonsmokers and passive smokers. Mean urine cotinine was higher in passive smokers than nonsmokers but there was a great deal of intersubject overlap. Cotinine in all body fluids could separate active smokers from the other two groups. Among smokers, light smokers had lower levels than heavier smokers. INSET: Name Change Approved for University of Texas Cancer Center.... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smoking histories and beliefs about smoking were obtained on 120 ex- and current smokers. Ex-smokers view smoking as a serious health problem, did not report having a physician recommend they stop. and feel personally susceptible to its adverse effects, Moderate smokers (0-10/ day) also view smoking as serious, but do not see themselves as vulnerable to its adverse effects. The data suggest that certain attitudes can discriminate between groups of current smokers, as well as smokers from ex-smokers, (Am J Public Health 1981:71: 1253-1255.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To investigate those factors associated with patients' cigarette smoking status, 455 consecutive patients seen in two specialty clinics and one general medicine clinic at a university medical center were studied, Patient's age, sex, health status, and number of previous cessation attempts discriminated current from ex-smokers. A strong interaction was observed between sex and disease status with females showing a greater impact of smoking-related disease on smoking behavior than males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on Linda Costigan, a woman diagnosed with lung cancer due to smoking cigarettes for 42 years. Costigan made the decision to educate other people about the hazards of smoking by allowing the organization American Legacy Foundation to use her image and her letters to a daughter, a granddaughter and a friend in the foundation's 2002-2003 national advertising campaign against smoking. The author emphasized that while 178,000 women die of tobacco-related illnesses each year, tobacco use is also the largest preventable cause of death among women in the United States and that efforts should be made to help people quit smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An excerpt from the letters submitted by former smokers and received by the American Public Health Association Smoking and Health Project is presented.