The association between smoking bans and nicotine dependence: a longitudinal analysis of current smokers in Canada

Associations of Quantity Smoked and Socioeconomic Status With Smoke-Free Homes and Cars Among Daily Smokers

INTRODUCTION

An association between socioeconomic status (SES) and smoke-free private spaces among smokers could be due to heavier smoking among low SES smokers. We assessed whether quantity smoked or SES are independently associated with smoke-free homes or cars in daily smokers.

METHOD

Data were drawn from a cross-sectional telephone survey (2011-2012) of 750 daily smokers age ≥18 years in Quebec, Canada (45% response). Multivariable logistic regression was used to model the independent association between (a) number of cigarettes smoked per day, and (b) each of educational attainment, annual household income, or active employment status and smoke-free homes or cars.

RESULTS

Participants were 41.0 years old on average, 57% were female. Median (IQR) number of cigarettes smoked per day was 14 (10, 20). Forty-eight percent of participants reported smoke-free homes; 34% reported smoke-free cars. Quantity smoked was strongly associated with both smoke-free homes and cars. Income and education (but not actively employed) were associated with smoke-free homes. None of the SES indicators were associated with smoke-free cars.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions targeting smokers to promote smoke-free homes and cars should incorporate components to help smokers reduce quantity smoked or preferably, to quit. Interventions targeting smoke-free homes will also need to address SES inequalities by education and income. Our data suggest that reduction in quantity smoked may help smokers reduce SHS exposure in cars, but that an inequality lens may not be relevant.

County Smoke-Free Laws and Cigarette Smoking Among U.S. Adults, 1995-2015

INTRODUCTION

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death worldwide. Though research on smoke-free policies in the U.S. exists at the state or national level, there is limited evidence on such policies at the county level. This study examined the association between changes in county-level comprehensive smoke-free laws and smoking behavior among U.S. adults.

METHODS

Data were used from the 1995/1996 to the 2014/2015 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey, analyzed in 2019. Changes in county smoke-free law population coverage over time were used as a natural experiment. Quasi-experimental analyses were performed to examine the association between changes in county-level comprehensive smoke-free laws and smoking behavior (smoking status and number of cigarettes smoked).

RESULTS

During the study period, current smoking prevalence decreased from 21.6% to 11.9%. Specifically, the prevalence of every day smoking decreased from 17.1% to 9.1% and some days smoking decreased from 4.4% to 2.9%. The number of cigarettes smoked per day for every day smokers decreased from 18.5 to 13.6, and from 5.9 to 4.1 for those who smoked some days. Comprehensive smoke-free legislation was associated with lower odds of cigarette smoking (AOR=0.76, 95% CI=0.74, 0.79). Adults living in counties with comprehensive smoke-free policies smoked fewer cigarettes per day both for every day smokers (β= -1.55, p<0.0001) and some days smokers (β= -0.79, p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

County smoke-free policies in the U.S. may have contributed significantly to the reduction in smoking prevalence as well as the reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked among continuing cigarette smokers.

Smoke-free homes, smoking susceptibility and familial smoking among never-smoking high school students: a cross-sectional analysis

BACKGROUND

Research has shown that living in a smoke-free home has a positive effect on adolescents' perceived acceptance of smoking. However, the relationship between smoke-free homes and adolescent smoking behaviours remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the association between smoke-free homes and smoking susceptibility among high school students, and to determine whether these associations persist when analyses are stratified by familial smoking status.

METHODS

We conducted a random cross-sectional survey (2012/2013 Youth Smoking Survey) of primary, junior and high school students in Canada (n = 47 203). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between smoke-free homes and susceptibility to smoking among never-smoking high school students, with and without stratification by familial smoking.

RESULTS

Analyses showed that adolescents living in a smoke-free home had reduced odds of being susceptible to smoking (odds ratio [OR] 0.582, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.428-0.791) compared with their peers living in households where smoking was permitted. When adolescents had other family members who were smokers, having a smoke-free home was not significantly associated with reduced smoking susceptibility (OR 0.878, 95% CI 0.721-1.071).

INTERPRETATION

Our results suggest that smoke-free homes may influence future smoking initiation. Optimal success in preventing youth smoking uptake necessitates having a coherent antismoking message between the home smoking environment and familial smoking behaviour.

Effect of smoke-free patio policy of restaurants and bars on exposure to second-hand smoke

OBJECTIVE

While there is increasing support for restricting smoking in restaurant and bar patios, there is limited evidence on the effectiveness of this policy. This study examined the effect of smoke-free patio policy of restaurants and bars on adult second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure.

METHODS

Data were drawn from the 2005-2012 Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (n=89,743), a repeated cross-sectional survey of youth and adult. Regression analysis, a quasi-experimental design was used to examine the effect of provincial smoke-free patio policy on self-reported exposure to SHS.

RESULTS

Analyses suggest that exposure to SHS on patios of bars and restaurants declined following the adoption of provincial smoke-free patio policy. Relative to pre-policy SHS exposure, regression results showed a reduction in the probability of SHS exposure of up to 25% in Alberta. Similarly, in Nova Scotia, the probability of SHS exposure declined by up to 21%. Analyses stratified by smoking status found similar significant effect on both smokers and non-smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that provincial patio smoking ban on bars and restaurants had the intended effect of protecting non-smokers from SHS exposure. This study is consistent with a large body of evidence showing that a strong smoke-free legislation is an effective public health measure.