Reasons for smoking among tri-ethnic daily and nondaily smokers

New Insights in the Involvement of the Endocannabinoid System and Natural Cannabinoids in Nicotine Dependence

Nicotine, the main psychoactive component in tobacco smoke, plays a major role in tobacco addiction, producing a high morbidity and mortality in the world. A great amount of research has been developed to elucidate the neural pathways and neurotransmitter systems involved in such a complex addictive behavior. The endocannabinoid system, which has been reported to participate in the addictive properties of most of the prototypical drugs of abuse, is also implicated in nicotine dependence. This review summarizes and updates the main behavioral and biochemical data involving the endocannabinoid system in the rewarding properties of nicotine as well as in nicotine withdrawal and relapse to nicotine-seeking behavior. Promising results from preclinical studies suggest that manipulation of the endocannabinoid system could be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating nicotine addiction.

Not all smokers appear to seek nicotine for the same reasons: implications for preclinical research in nicotine dependence

Tobacco use leads to 6 million deaths every year due to severe long-lasting diseases. The main component of tobacco, nicotine, is recognized as one of the most addictive drugs, making smoking cessation difficult, even when 70 percent of smokers wish to do so. Clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated consistently that nicotine seeking is a complex behavior involving various psychopharmacological mechanisms. Evidence supports that the population of smokers is heterogeneous, particularly as regards the breadth of motives that determine the urge to smoke. Here, we review converging psychological, genetic and neurobiological data from clinical and preclinical studies supporting that the mechanisms controlling nicotine seeking may vary from individual to individual. It appears timely that basic neuroscience integrates this heterogeneity to refine our understanding of the neurobiology of nicotine seeking, as tremendous progress has been made in modeling the various psychopharmacological mechanisms driving nicotine seeking in rodents. For a better understanding of the mechanisms that drive nicotine seeking, we emphasize the need for individual-based research strategies in which nicotine seeking, and eventually treatment efficacy, are determined while taking into account individual variations in the mechanisms of nicotine seeking.

Motivations for smoking in hospitalized patients

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To investigate the profile of motivations for smoking among inpatients at a hospital in southern Brazil. METHODS: A survey study involving hospitalized smokers. The Modified Reasons for Smoking Scale (MRFSS) and its domains were analyzed according to gender and dependence degree. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 85 adults (mean age 53 years), low schooling/family income, and well-adjusted in terms of gender (male= 52.9%) and clinical (48%) or surgical (47%) specialty. Most were in Action as the motivational stage (68%), with elevated smoking exposure (median = 39 years/packs) and dependence degree of nicotine (56.4%). The highest domains of the MRFSS were: Smoking Pleasure (4.34 ± 1.2), Relaxation/Tension Reduction (4.24 ± 1.2) and Dependence (3.8±1.4). Significantly, women presented higher scores, in domain Relaxation/Tension Reduction (4.7±0.9). In those with elevated nicotine dependence, higher scores were observed in the Automatism/Habit and Stimulation domains. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking Pleasure and Relaxation/Tension Reduction, especially in women and Automatism, in those more dependents, are factors that should be more highlighted in future strategies for smoking cessation in inpatients.

Sociodemographic differences in reasons for ENDS use among US youth within Wave 2 of the PATH study

INTRODUCTION

Adolescents use electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS, or e-cigarettes) more than other tobacco products. Among adults, some data indicate that motivations for use vary by sociodemographic group. This study sought to examine how adolescents' motivations for ENDS use vary by sociodemographic characteristics, including age, gender, race/ethnicity and household income.

METHODS

The current study used data from Wave 2 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study. Youth who used ENDS in the past 30 days were asked to report their motivations for product use. Rates of reporting each reason for use were compared across sociodemographic groups.

RESULTS

Appealing flavors was the most commonly reported motivation for using ENDS, and was mentioned more often among females (89.23%) than males (74.00%). Females were also more likely than males to report using ENDS because the product feels like smoking cigarettes (AOR=1.761) and people who are important to the participant smoke them (AOR=1.895). Older teens were more likely to report using ENDS because the product does not smell bad (56.45%, 15-17 years old; 42.83%, 12-14 years old).

CONCLUSIONS

Motivations for ENDS use vary by sociodemographic group. Understanding the motivations for use among sociodemographic subgroups is an initial step towards informing the development of policies and interventions with equally distributed benefits.

Daily and Nondaily Smoking Varies by Acculturation among English-Speaking, US Latino Men and Women

Background

Higher smoking prevalence and quantity (cigarettes per day) has been linked to acculturation in the United States among Latinas, but not Latino men. Our study examines variation between a different and increasingly important target behavior, smoking level (nondaily vs daily) and acculturation by sex.

Methods

An online English-language survey was administered to 786 Latino smokers during July through August 2012. The Brief Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican Americans-II (ARSMA-II) and other acculturation markers were used. Multinomial logistic regression models were implemented to assess the association between smoking levels (nondaily, light daily, and moderate/heavy daily) with acculturation markers.

Results

Greater ARMSA-II scores (relative risk ratio, RRR=.81, 95% CI: .72-.91) and being born inside the United States (RRR=.42, 95% CI: .24-.74) were associated with lower relative risk of nondaily smoking. Greater Latino orientation (RRR=1.29, 95% CI: 1.11-1.48) and preference for Spanish language (RRR=1.06, 95% CI: 1.02-1.10) and media (RRR=1.12, 95% CI: 1.05-1.20) were associated with higher relative risk of nondaily smoking. The relationship between acculturation and smoking level did not differ by sex.

Conclusion

This study found that among both male and female, English-speaking Latino smokers, nondaily smoking was associated with lower acculturation, while daily smoking was linked with higher acculturation.

Perceived cessation treatment effectiveness, medication preferences, and barriers to quitting among light and moderate/heavy homeless smokers

INTRODUCTION

Homeless individuals smoke at disproportionately high rates and quit at disproportionately low rates relative to domiciled smokers. Targeted research is needed to inform future interventions. Socio-demographic characteristics of homeless adults suggest that light smoking may be prevalent, and the relation between smoking level and treatment-related preferences/needs is unknown. The current study addressed these gaps in a sample of homeless smokers.

METHODS

Participants (N=237) were homeless adult daily light (1-10 cigarettes per day) and moderate/heavy (>10 cigarettes per day) smokers recruited from a single shelter that offered cessation treatment. Survey items assessed perceived treatment effectiveness, pharmacological intervention preferences, and barriers to quitting smoking. Logistic regressions were used to assess differences in treatment-related factors by smoking level.

RESULTS

The prevalence of light smoking (44.7%) was higher than in previously studied samples of domiciled smokers. Relative to moderate/heavy smokers, light smokers smoked for fewer years, had more quit attempts in the last year, and were more likely to smoke menthol cigarettes. They were less likely to believe that medications would give them the greatest chance of quitting and more likely to believe that group counseling would be helpful. Light smokers did not differ from moderate/heavy smokers on specific pharmacological intervention preferences or on perceived barriers to quitting smoking, including craving.

CONCLUSIONS

The promotion of pharmacotherapy to address cravings may be necessary for light smokers, who represent a sizeable proportion of homeless smokers and who may make apt intervention targets given their higher rates of purposeful quit attempts relative to heavier smoking counterparts.