New Analysis: Light and Intermittent Smokers Overlooked in Traditional Tobacc...( March Issue of Nicotine and Tobacco R...),Health

March Issue of Nicotine and Tobacco Research Analyzes Trends, Impact of Light Cigarette Use

WASHINGTON, March 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To date, the majority of research conducted about tobacco use has been related to the impact of moderate to heavy smoking. The March 2009 issue of Nicotine and Tobacco Research is focused on examining light and intermittent smoking. Several of the nation's preeminent public health experts and researchers worked together to uncover trends related to light smokers, those who smoke less than 10-15 cigarettes per day and intermittent or occasional smokers, those who may not smoke every day.

According to the CDC, one-fifth of U.S. smokers are intermittent or occasional smokers. Yet, existing research and public health efforts have targeted moderate to heavy smokers. There is no safe level of cigarette smoke, though, and for this reason, the American Legacy Foundation, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institutes of Health Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research co-funded Light and Intermittent Smoking, a special issue of Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

The issue includes 13 original, peer-reviewed articles that stemmed from recommendations made at a meeting of 29 collaborative scientists held in 2005. This unprecedented meeting yielded a concerted effort by the public health community to reduce light and intermittent smoking, and this compilation of research is the beginning of curbing that trend and helping to avoid the 1 billion projected tobacco-related deaths in the 21st century.

"This special issue is chapter one of a very important volume in the overall fight against tobacco," said Cheryl G. Healton, Dr. P.H., president and CEO of the American Legacy Foundation. "We are yet to fully understand the best ways to help these light smokers quit, a very important goal, as th
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