-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: AIMS: We aimed to assess whether young people who first tried menthol cigarettes were at greater risk of becoming established smokers and dependent on nicotine than young people who started smoking non-menthol cigarettes. DESIGN: Cohort study using data from the American Legacy Longitudinal Tobacco Use Reduction Study (ALLTURS), a three-wave longitudinal school-based survey of middle school and high school students. Regression methods were used to assess the association between initiation with menthol cigarettes on risk of transitioning to established smoking or quitting from a non-smoking state at baseline and on nicotine dependence score at wave 3. SETTING: The study was conducted in 83 schools in seven communities and five states in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Analyses were restricted to youth who participated in all three waves of ALLTURS, were younger than age 17 at baseline, and had initiated smoking during waves 1 or 2 of the study. MEASUREMENTS: Outcomes were indicators of a transition to established smoking or non-smoking from non-established smoking and a nicotine dependence score. The key explanatory variables were an indicator of initiation with menthol cigarettes and indicators for pattern of menthol use over time. FINDINGS: Initiating smoking with menthol cigarettes was associated with progression to established smoking [odds ratio (OR) = 1.80, confidence interval (CI): 1.02-3.16] and higher levels of nicotine dependence (β = 1.25, CI: 0.1-2.4). CONCLUSION: Young people in the United States who start smoking menthol cigarettes are at greater risk of progression to regular smoking and nicotine dependence than are young people who start smoking non-menthol cigarettes.
Addiction 08/2012; · 4.31 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Cessation television ads are often evaluated with measures of perceived effectiveness (PE) that gauge smokers' reactions to the ads. Although measures of PE have been validated for other genres of public service announcements, no studies to our knowledge have demonstrated the predictive validity of PE for cessation TV ads specifically. We analyzed data from a longitudinal Web survey of smokers in the United States to assess whether measures of PE for cessation TV ads are causally antecedent to cessation-related outcomes. These data consisted of baseline and 2-week follow-up surveys of 3,411 smokers who were shown a number of cessation TV ads and were asked to provide their appraisals of PE for those messages. We found that baseline PE for the ads was associated with increased negative feelings about smoking, increased outcome expectations about the benefits of quitting, increased consideration of the benefits of quitting, increased desire to quit, and increased intentions to quit smoking at follow-up. Results suggest that measures of PE for cessation TV ads can be powerful predictors of likely ad success. Hence, our findings support the use of PE in quantitative ad pretesting as part of a standard regimen of formative research for cessation television campaigns.
Health Communication 07/2012; · 0.97 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To isolate the independent influence of exposure to smoking and other adult content in the movies on youth smoking uptake.
We used discrete time survival analysis to quantify the influence of exposure to smoking and other adult content in the movies on transitioning from (1) closed to open to smoking; (2) never to ever trying smoking; and (3) never to ever hitting, slapping, or shoving someone on two or more occasions in the past 30 days. The latter is a comparative outcome, hypothesized to have no correlation with exposure to smoking in the movies.
Assessed separately, both exposure to smoking imagery and exposure to adult content were associated with increased likelihood of youth becoming open to smoking (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.04-1.15 and OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04-1.17) and having tried smoking (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.00-1.12 and OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.00-1.13). Both measures were also separately associated with aggressive behavior (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.04-1.14 and OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.04-1.15). A very high correlation between the two measures (0.995, p<0.000) prevented an assessment of their independent effects on smoking initiation.
Although exposure to smoking in the movies is correlated with smoking susceptibility and initiation, the high correlation between exposure to smoking in the movies and other adult content suggests that more research is needed to disentangle their independent influence on smoking.
PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(12):e51935. · 4.09 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We assessed the impact of a statewide tobacco-free services regulation on facility administrators' attitudes and the integration of tobacco dependence treatment into substance use disorder services. We surveyed substance use disorder treatment facility administrators in New York before (n = 285) and after (n = 205) tobacco-free services regulation implementation about their attitudes, their perceptions of staff and patient attitudes, and the facilities' services. We analyzed data on admissions and tobacco treatment pharmacotherapy administration. We found increased tobacco screening and cessation services offered, increased use of tobacco pharmacotherapy, and increased support for tobacco-free campus policies. Although patient resistance was a challenge, administrators reported a decrease in patient resistance to tobacco-free policies. Patient admissions did not decrease after the regulation went into effect. Tobacco-free services regulations in substance use disorder treatment facilities can be feasibly implemented, which has the potential to decrease the extremely high rates of tobacco use among people with substance use disorders.
Journal of substance abuse treatment 10/2011; 42(3):319-27. · 2.90 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Although most smokers want to quit, the long-term success rate of quit attempts remains low; research is needed to understand the policy and environmental influences that can increase the success of cessation efforts. This paper uses regression methods to investigate self-reported exposure to policy and environmental influences on quit attempts, maintenance of a quit attempt for at least 6 months, and relapse in a longitudinal population-based sample, the New York Adult Cohort Survey, followed for 12 months (N = 3,261) and 24 months (N = 1,142). When policy or environmental influence variables were assessed independently of other policy or environmental influence variables, many were significant for at least some of the cessation outcomes. In the full models that included a full set of policy or environmental influence variables, many significant associations became nonsignificant. A number of policies may have an influence on multiple cessation outcomes. However, the effect varies by cessation outcome, and statistical significance is influenced by model specification.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 09/2011; 8(9):3591-608. · 1.61 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: One of the most notable trends in illegal substance use among Americans over the past decade is the dramatic growth and spread of methamphetamine use. In response to the dramatic rise in methamphetamine use and its associated burden, a broad range of legislations has been passed to combat the problem. In this paper, we assess the impact of retail-level laws intended to restrict chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine (methamphetamine precursor laws) in reducing indicators of domestic production, methamphetamine availability, and the consequences of methamphetamine use. Specifically, we examine trends in these indicators of methamphetamine supply and use over a period spanning the implementation of the federal Methamphetamine Anti-Proliferation Act (MAPA) (October 2000) and a more stringent state-level restriction enacted in California (January 2000). The results are mixed in terms of the effectiveness of legislative efforts to control methamphetamine production and use, depending on the strength of the legislation (California Uniform Controlled Substances Act versus federal MAPA), the specification of the comparison group, and the particular outcome of interest. Some evidence suggests that domestic production was impacted by these legislative efforts, but there is also evidence that prices fell, purities rose, and treatment episodes increased.
Health Economics 05/2011; 20(5):519-31. · 2.12 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: There are large disparities in cigarette smoking rates by socioeconomic status (SES) in many countries. There is mixed evidence about the relative effectiveness of smoking cessation media campaigns in promoting quitting between lower and higher SES populations, and studies suggest that some types of ad content may have differential effects by SES. We analyzed data from five waves of the New York Media Tracking Survey Online (MTSO), a web survey involving over 7000 adult smokers conducted between 2007 and 2009, to assess SES variation in response to smoking cessation ads. Smokers with low levels of education and income less often recalled ads focused on how to quit, and perceived them as less effective, than ads using graphic imagery or personal testimonials to convey why to quit. Contrary to predictions offered by the Stages of Change Model, we found no evidence that variation in readiness to quit smoking explained patterns of response by education. Results offer guidance for theorists and campaign planners in developing campaigns that are likely to promote cessation among less educated populations.
Social Science [?] Medicine 01/2011; 72(5):773-80. · 2.70 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: States and national organizations spend millions annually on antismoking campaigns aimed at youth. Much of the evidence for their effectiveness is based on cross-sectional studies. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a prominent national youth smoking-prevention campaign in the U.S. known as truth that was launched in February 2000.
A nationally representative cohort of 8904 adolescents aged 12-17 years who were interviewed annually from 1997 to 2004 was analyzed in 2008. A quasi-experimental design was used to relate changes in smoking initiation to variable levels of exposure to antismoking messages over time and across 210 media markets in the U.S. A discrete-time hazard model was used to quantify the influence of media market delivery of TV commercials on smoking initiation, controlling for confounding influences. Based on the results of the hazard model, the number of youth nationally who were prevented from smoking from 2000 through 2004 was estimated.
Exposure to the truth campaign is associated with a decreased risk of smoking initiation (relative risk=0.80, p=0.001). Through 2004, approximately 450,000 adolescents were prevented from trying smoking nationwide. Factors negatively associated with initiation include African-American race (relative risk=0.44, p<0.001), Hispanic ethnicity (relative risk=0.74, p<0.001), completing high school (relative risk=0.69, p<0.001), and living with both parents at baseline (OR=0.79, p<0.001).
The current study strengthens the available evidence for antismoking campaigns as a viable strategy for preventing youth smoking.
American journal of preventive medicine 02/2009; 36(5):379-84. · 4.24 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Research and Development (R&D) and innovation are crucial features of the seed industry. To support large R&D investments by the private sector, strong intellectual property rights, such as patents, are necessary. The exclusivity granted by patents naturally creates market power positions and raises difficult and unresolved competition issues in an antitrust context.
Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, 2009 Annual Meeting, July 26-28, 2009, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 01/2009;
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: "Two of the most notable trends in public health over the past 30 yr are the reductions in smoking rates and the rapid rise in obesity rates. Several studies have investigated the relationship between these trends but have drawn different conclusions. In this article, we revisit this issue, attempting to clarify the prior discrepant results. Overall, we find no support for the claim that rising cigarette taxes have significantly contributed to rising obesity rates. Instead, we find only a moderately sized effect among former smokers". ("JEL "I12) Copyright (c) 2008 Western Economic Association International.
Economic Inquiry 01/2009; 47(2):366-376. · 0.98 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: This study examined the relationship between tobacco prices and child health outcomes so as to assess the potential of improved child health outcomes resulting from less tobacco expenditure. In part, this paper was motivated by a study by. Efroymson et al. [(2001). Hungry for tobacco: An analysis of the economic impact of tobacco consumption on the poor in Bangladesh. Tobacco Control, 10, 212-217] suggesting that for the poorest households in Bangladesh, amongst whom malnutrition is widespread, shifting tobacco expenditures to expenditures on food would significantly improve the nutritional status of the household. We used data from a survey of 956 households conducted in rural Bangladesh between June 1996 and September 1997. The households were surveyed four times at approximately 4-month intervals during the 16-month period. We restricted our sample to households with children aged 2-10, and 600 households satisfied this criterion. The primary dependent variables for this study are three anthropometric indicators of child health and nutritional status: a standardized measure of height for age, a standardized measure of weight for height, and a standardized measure of weight for age. We also used measures of self-reported morbidity, including the incidence and duration of respiratory illness. We used regression methods on data averaged across survey rounds to estimate the relationship between tobacco prices and the outcome variables. Tobacco prices were found to be a significant determinant of height for age and weight for height for both boys and girls. Furthermore, the price of tobacco products is a significant predictor of weight for age for girls and the pooled sample. Our results suggest that higher tobacco prices would, for the most part, improve child health.
Social Science [?] Medicine 01/2008; 65(12):2517-26. · 2.70 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Rationale: Since 1998, funding for state tobacco control programs in the U.S. increased marketedly, including several states that focused on preventing youth smoking. In addition, cigarette prices have increased considerably over this same timeframe. There has been considerable debate in the literature about the true effects of cigarette prices on youth smoking initiation. Objective: In using a longitudinal national panel of youth ages 12-17 at baseline (1997) and 7 follow-up waves, we model the effects of both cigarette prices, exposure to a national anti-smoking campaign and funding for tobacco control program on youth smoking initiation and cessation over this time period. Methods: We model smoking using intiation to any smoking, experimental smoking (smoked 1-19 days in the last month), and established smoking (smoked on 20+ days in the last month). We code transitions to different smoking states from baseline to the last follow-up and model this change with a logistic regression. The independent variables of interest include state cigarette prices, funding for tobacco control programs, and media market level exposure to anti-smoking campaigns. We also use a discrete time hazard model using all waves of data. We test the sensitivity of the results to various specifications, including the inclusion of state fixed effects and various methods of modeling funding for tobacco control programs (e.g., cumulative funding versus annual funding). Results: We find that cigarette prices are associated with progression to established smoking, but not experimental smoking. We also found that exposure to a national anti-smoking campaign was associated with experimental smoking and established smoking. The results for the effects of state tobacco control program funding varied based on specification. Conclusions: Various state tobacco control interventions can be an effective method for curbing youth smoking. Results are influenced by the inclusion of state fixed effects.
HEN: Smoking (Sub-Topic). 06/2007;
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Using a new brand of cigarettes with less nicotine content than conventional cigarettes, we conducted experimental auctions at two grocery stores to estimate smokers' value of nicotine. Our approach is novel because the brand of cigarettes auctioned was new to the market and the cigarette's nicotine content is reduced using genetic modification, with no effect on the taste of the cigarettes. We found smokers would be willing to pay US$1.25-$1.45 for a pack of cigarettes with no nicotine and $1.59-$1.66 for a pack of cigarettes with low levels of nicotine.
Nicotine & Tobacco Research 02/2007; 9(1):93-9. · 2.58 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We used data from a nationally representative sample of US adolescents in school grades 7 through 12 to explore the effects of public and private religiosity on initiation, escalation, and cessation of smoking. We found that adolescents' decisions to experiment with smoking are influenced by both their individual practice of their faith and by participation in a larger faith community. However, the effects of private and public religiosity are specific to different decision points on the smoking uptake process. Private religiosity was protective against initiation of regular smoking among nonsmokers. It also was protective against initiation of experimental smoking but only when the young person frequently attended religious services or a religious youth group. Although private religiosity appeared to discourage the uptake of smoking, it was unrelated to reduction or cessation once a young person has become addicted to cigarettes. In contrast, public religiosity did predict reduction and cessation of cigarette use among regular smokers. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the domains in which religiosity are important extend beyond the individual and include religious institutions.
Social Science [?] Medicine 07/2006; 62(12):3084-95. · 2.70 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: This study used structural equation modeling to test a theory-based model of the pathways by which exposure to the "truth" counterindustry media campaign influenced beliefs, attitudes, and smoking behavior in national random-digit-dial telephone surveys of 16,000 12- to 17-year-olds before, 8 months after, and 15 months after campaign launch. Consistent with concepts from the theory of reasoned action, youth in markets with higher levels of campaign exposure had more negative beliefs about tobacco industry practices and more negative attitudes toward the tobacco industry. Models also provided support for a social inoculation effect, because negative industry attitudes were associated with lower receptivity to protobacco advertising and with less progression along a continuum of smoking intentions and behavior.
Health Psychology 02/2005; 24(1):22-31. · 3.87 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: This paper reports on the measurement properties of a scale intended to measure nicotine dependence in adolescents using data from the American Legacy Longitudinal Tobacco Use Reduction Study. The Nicotine Dependence Scale for Adolescents (NDSA) is a simple linear sum of items associated with behaviors to avoid withdrawal and items associated with experiences of craving. An exploratory factor analysis indicated that the items formed a single scale. The reliability of the scale was assessed by estimating Cronbach's alpha for the scale items. The estimated alpha reliability was.81. The scale's validity was assessed by estimating the correlation between the scale and measures of smoking and quitting behaviors. As hypothesized, the scale was positively correlated with lifetime number of cigarettes smoked (r=.44, p<.001), days smoked in the past 30 days (r=.66, p<.001), cigarettes smoked per day on days smoked (r=.61, p<.001), and number of quit attempts (r=.10, p<.001) and negatively correlated with the length of the quit attempt (r=-.22, p<.001). We also examined the measurement properties of the NDSA separately for middle and high school students and by gender and race or ethnicity. We found no meaningful differences in the measurement properties of the NDSA across these groups. The six-item self-report NDSA had good measurement properties in our sample.
Nicotine & Tobacco Research 04/2004; 6(2):295-301. · 2.58 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: This study sought to identify the pathways through which state-funded counterindustry media campaigns influence beliefs and attitudes regarding tobacco industry practices and smoking status.
A national random-digit-dial telephone survey of 6875 youths 12 to 24 years old was conducted in Winter 1999-2000. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis investigated the structure underlying beliefs and attitudes toward the tobacco industry. Structural equation modeling tested whether the data were consistent with a theoretically based causal model of campaign effects from exposure to an aggressive counterindustry campaign, mediated by beliefs about tobacco industry practices and attitudes toward the tobacco industry, to smoking status.
Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis indicated that two dimensions underlie perceptions of the tobacco industry: beliefs about tobacco industry practices and attitudes toward the industry. Structural equation models provided strong support for the hypothesized model: youth living in states with aggressive counterindustry media campaigns had more negative beliefs about tobacco industry practices, which led to negative attitudes toward the industry and less progression along a continuum of smoking intentions and behavior.
Media campaigns using counterindustry messages show promise in reducing smoking behavior among teens and young adults by changing beliefs about industry practices.
Preventive Medicine 01/2004; 37(6 Pt 1):544-52. · 3.22 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Information about cigarettes can help smokers come to an informed decision about what cigarettes to purchase. Countermarketing information can help smokers make informed decisions, but little is known about the value of this information to smokers. In this article, we use data from experimental auctions to estimate the value of countermarketing information that counters industry claims about reduced-risk cigarettes. We find that this information has significant value to smokers who have been exposed to marketing information from tobacco companies touting reduced-risk cigarettes, but we find no evidence it provides value to smokers not exposed to this marketing information.
Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics. 43(04).
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: ObjectivesThis study sought to identify the pathways through which state-funded counterindustry media campaigns influence beliefs and attitudes regarding tobacco industry practices and smoking status.MethodsA national random-digit-dial telephone survey of 6875 youths 12 to 24 years old was conducted in Winter 1999–2000. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis investigated the structure underlying beliefs and attitudes toward the tobacco industry. Structural equation modeling tested whether the data were consistent with a theoretically based causal model of campaign effects from exposure to an aggressive counterindustry campaign, mediated by beliefs about tobacco industry practices and attitudes toward the tobacco industry, to smoking status.ResultsExploratory and confirmatory factor analysis indicated that two dimensions underlie perceptions of the tobacco industry: beliefs about tobacco industry practices and attitudes toward the industry. Structural equation models provided strong support for the hypothesized model: youth living in states with aggressive counterindustry media campaigns had more negative beliefs about tobacco industry practices, which led to negative attitudes toward the industry and less progression along a continuum of smoking intentions and behavior.ConclusionsMedia campaigns using counterindustry messages show promise in reducing smoking behavior among teens and young adults by changing beliefs about industry practices.
Preventive Medicine.
