Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-05-07DOI: 10.1136/tc-2024-059242
Otto Ruokolainen, Hanna Ollila, Karoliina Karjalainen
{"title":"Correlates of the use of different nicotine strengths in smokeless tobacco (snus) and oral nicotine pouches among the Finnish general population.","authors":"Otto Ruokolainen, Hanna Ollila, Karoliina Karjalainen","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-059242","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-059242","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Snus and oral nicotine pouches (ONPs) include different levels of nicotine, yet little is known about their correlates of use. Our aim was to study the correlates of use of snus and ONPs with different nicotine levels.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We used population-based Drug Survey 2022, including 15-69-year-old respondents (n=3857, response rate 47%). Persons who had ever used the products were included in further analyses (29% (n=1611) according to snus use and 14% (n=589) according to ONP use). Outcomes included self-reported strength of snus (normal, strong, extra strong and do not know)/ONPs (≤ 4 mg, > 4 mg and do not know) and covariates included demographic, tobacco and substance use-related variables. Logistic regression analyses were used.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>31% of persons who had ever used snus reported using snus labelled as normal and 43% of persons who had ever used ONPs reported using lower nicotine-level ONPs. About one-third of respondents did not know the nicotine content of the used product. For stronger snus use, multivariable models showed an association with male gender, younger age, current/former snus use, hazardous alcohol and lifetime cannabis use, while younger age and current use of snus and e-cigarettes were associated with stronger ONP use.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Not knowing the nicotine level of the used snus or ONPs was common among the Finnish population having used the products. Younger age and the use of snus are associated with the use of stronger snus and ONPs. The nicotine levels and addictiveness of oral tobacco and nicotine products should be regulated.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143987929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-05-07DOI: 10.1136/tc-2024-059137
Roma Subramanian, Kaeli Samson, Hongying Daisy Dai
{"title":"Tobacco control messages for individuals who use both cigarettes and e-cigarettes: a randomised trial comparing biomarker outcome with cessation experience narratives.","authors":"Roma Subramanian, Kaeli Samson, Hongying Daisy Dai","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-059137","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-059137","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes is prevalent among US adults, increasing nicotine addiction and health risks. This study investigated what type of narrative messages would be more effective in encouraging individuals who use both e-cigarettes and cigarettes to quit both smoking and vaping.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted an online between-subjects randomised experiment on individuals who currently use both e-cigarettes and cigarettes (n=489). The 'biomarker outcome' narrative group viewed a 'why-quit' message that highlighted a decrease in biomarkers of toxicant exposure on quitting smoking and vaping; the 'cessation experience' narrative group viewed a 'how-to-quit' message that highlighted strategies for quitting smoking and vaping. Multivariable regressions were conducted to evaluate message effects on motivation to quit smoking and vaping based on perceived importance, commitment and readiness (range: 0-10). Mediation analyses were performed to assess pathways from messages through emotional responses to motivation to quit.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>As compared with viewing the 'cessation experience' narrative, exposure to the 'biomarker outcome' narrative led to larger increases in the motivation to quit smoking (adjusted β (SE)=0.3 (0.1), p=0.02) and vaping (adjusted β (SE)=0.5 (0.1), p=0.003). Individuals who were exposed to the 'biomarker outcome' narrative reported higher negative emotions and lower positive emotions than those in the 'cessation experience' narrative group. The message effects on changes in motivation to quit smoking (β<sub>indirect effect</sub>=0.06, p=0.002) and vaping (β<sub>indirect effect</sub>=0.05, p=0.009) were significantly mediated by negative emotions, but not by positive emotions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A biomarker outcome narrative message that highlights the efficacy of quitting smoking and vaping by presenting evidence-based, objective biomarkers of toxicant exposure may be a persuasive message format in anti-dual use messaging.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144027687","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-05-07DOI: 10.1136/tc-2024-059227
Eunsil Cheon, Seulgi Kim, Susan Park, Steve Shaowei Xu, Anne C K Quah, Sung-Il Cho, Heewon Kang
{"title":"Cigarette packs as advertising channels to promote heated tobacco products in South Korea.","authors":"Eunsil Cheon, Seulgi Kim, Susan Park, Steve Shaowei Xu, Anne C K Quah, Sung-Il Cho, Heewon Kang","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-059227","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-059227","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144050034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-05-07DOI: 10.1136/tc-2024-059145
Joanne Chen Lyu, Jenny E Ozga, Cassandra A Stanton, Mary Hrywna, Ollie Ganz, Jennifer Cornacchione Ross, Akshika Sharma, Pamela M Ling
{"title":"Advertising the leading US nicotine pouch brand: a content analysis of ZYN advertisements from 2019 to 2023.","authors":"Joanne Chen Lyu, Jenny E Ozga, Cassandra A Stanton, Mary Hrywna, Ollie Ganz, Jennifer Cornacchione Ross, Akshika Sharma, Pamela M Ling","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-059145","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-059145","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>ZYN is the leading nicotine pouch brand and a predominant driver of nicotine pouch advertising. In November 2022, Philip Morris International (PMI) acquired Swedish Match, the manufacturer of ZYN.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a content analysis of 207 US-based consumer-facing ZYN advertisements (ads) from January 2019 to June 2023 to delineate the characteristics of ZYN ads and compare them before and after Swedish Match was acquired by PMI.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most ZYN ads were on digital media, and nearly all included information on nicotine strength and flavour. Peppermint was the most advertised flavour across time. After the acquisition, ZYN ads included significantly fewer 'tobacco-free' claims, whereas 'spit-free' claims significantly increased. The most common marketing claims were that multiple choices of products were available, followed by easy to buy, change, sales success, ability to use anywhere and improved social interaction before and after the acquisition. The percentages of ads with easy to buy, change and sales success claims, reward programmes and those linked to websites significantly increased after the acquisition.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>After PMI acquired Swedish Match, ZYN ads used 'tobacco-free' claims less frequently. The most advertised marketing claims remained unchanged but were made more frequently in post-acquisition ads. Such claims, together with the promotion of reward programmes and links to websites for easy purchase, may attract young people or those who do not use tobacco to ZYN, indicating a need for increased monitoring and potential restrictions.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144035831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-05-07DOI: 10.1136/tc-2024-058937
Jill M Singer, Elizabeth G Klein, Micah L Berman, Jeffrey J Wing, Megan E Roberts
{"title":"'I'm sure within 5 minutes I can find someone that will be selling it': qualitative insights into how social media facilitates the sale of banned flavoured tobacco products.","authors":"Jill M Singer, Elizabeth G Klein, Micah L Berman, Jeffrey J Wing, Megan E Roberts","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-058937","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-058937","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In 2020, Massachusetts became the first state in the USA to restrict the sale of flavoured tobacco products. One demographic group that is disproportionately impacted by flavoured tobacco use is young people. This study explored how Massachusetts' flavour restriction impacted young adults and the ways that flavoured tobacco products were acquired after policy implementation.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between January and March 2024, we conducted 15 virtual, semistructured qualitative interviews with young adults (aged 19-29) who were living in Massachusetts and who reported ever using a flavoured tobacco product. The interview guide included questions about personal tobacco use, awareness of the flavour restriction policy and accessing flavoured tobacco products. After interviews were transcribed and coded, themes were identified.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Only 1 out of 15 participants believed that it would be hard for them to acquire flavoured tobacco products with Massachusetts' policy in place. Social sources were a common way participants reported getting flavoured tobacco products and one-third of participants mentioned seeing them sold on social media platforms. Snapchat was the most frequently reported platform; participants described the 'easy' process of connecting with sellers on Snapchat and how 'openly' people listed the products they had for sale.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Despite Massachusetts implementing a comprehensive flavoured tobacco restriction (FTR), young adults report being able to access flavoured tobacco products with ease. Snapchat was the social media platform that participants brought up frequently to find people selling flavoured tobacco products. Preventing the sale of flavoured tobacco products through Snapchat and other social sources will be critical for Massachusetts' FTR to have its intended impact.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144045106","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-04-29DOI: 10.1136/tc-2024-059000
Sophie Braznell, Sarah Dance, Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Anna Gilmore
{"title":"Impact of heated tobacco products on biomarkers of potential harm and adverse events: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Sophie Braznell, Sarah Dance, Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, Anna Gilmore","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-059000","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-059000","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To systematically review available data on the effects of heated tobacco products (HTPs) on biomarkers of potential harm (BoPH) and adverse events, including comparison to cigarettes, e-cigarettes and smoking abstinence.</p><p><strong>Data sources: </strong>Web of Science, Scopus, MedRxiv, ClinicalTrials.gov, ICTRP database and HTP manufacturer libraries were searched from January 2010 to December 2024.</p><p><strong>Study selection: </strong>Included studies were interventional clinical trials of any design that measured BoPH or adverse events in adults assigned a marketed HTP and another assigned either cigarettes, e-cigarettes or smoking abstinence.</p><p><strong>Data extraction: </strong>Two reviewers independently extracted data into a predesigned form and assessed risk of bias using Cochrane's Risk of Bias tool version 1.</p><p><strong>Data synthesis: </strong>BoPH data were synthesised using effect direction plots. A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled risk ratios for adverse event data. 40 studies (10 independent, 29 industry-affiliated and 1 of unclear affiliation) were included. Only nine studies lasted longer than 5 days. 19 involved using the intervention just once. Risk of bias was high for 32 studies and unclear for 8. Data on 143 BoPH indicated short-term HTP use had mixed effects compared with cigarettes, e-cigarettes and smoking abstinence. The rate of adverse event reporting was not significantly different between HTP and any comparator group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Despite a growing evidence base, significant limitations hinder interpretation of the data, which do not yet provide clear indication of harm or benefit, even compared with cigarettes. Longer, better quality studies independent of tobacco industry funding are needed to determine the health impacts of HTPs.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144033477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-04-23DOI: 10.1136/tc-2024-058724
Eileen Han, Eric Crosbie, Pamela Ling, Sara Perez, Huma Khan, Robert Hiatt, Cristin Kearns
{"title":"Tobacco industry influence on breast cancer research, policy and public opinion: scoping the Truth Tobacco Industry Documents.","authors":"Eileen Han, Eric Crosbie, Pamela Ling, Sara Perez, Huma Khan, Robert Hiatt, Cristin Kearns","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-058724","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-058724","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Over the last 35 years, there has been growing evidence suggesting a relationship between tobacco use and breast cancer. The tobacco industry's role in shaping research, policy and public opinion about the relationship is unknown. This study's objective is to determine if the tobacco industry-funded Council for Tobacco Research (CTR) Records and the Tobacco Institute (TI) Records, housed in the Truth Tobacco Industry Document Archive, contain documents related to internal research about breast cancer and strategies to influence the science and public opinion about breast cancer causes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We applied the situational scoping method, in which community advocates and university researchers collaborate, to (1) identify external events considered by CTR or TI as a threat or opportunity to business interests; (2) select events for further analysis and (3) conduct social worlds/arenas mapping of industry responses to selected events.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The CTR and TI Records contained 19 719 documents with the search term 'breast cancer' ranging from the 1950s to 1998. We analysed nine events relevant to the aim of this research. CTR and TI responded to external threats, pointing out methodological problems in studies they perceived as threatening, or characterising lung cancer as misdiagnosed or metastasised breast cancer. They responded to external opportunities with promoting and funding research focusing on smoking's 'protective effects' over breast cancer, and breast cancer's genetic, hormonal and dietary causes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The CTR and TI Records are a rich source of documents related to tobacco industry efforts to influence breast cancer research, policy and public opinion away from any aetiologic relationship between tobacco use and breast cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144064508","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-04-22DOI: 10.1136/tc-2024-059198
Linda van der Spek, Leonieke J Breunis, Tessa Scheffers-van Schayck, Linda Bauld, Erwin Ista, Jasper V Been
{"title":"Financial incentives for smoking cessation among (expectant) parents: a systematic review of facilitators and barriers to implementation.","authors":"Linda van der Spek, Leonieke J Breunis, Tessa Scheffers-van Schayck, Linda Bauld, Erwin Ista, Jasper V Been","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-059198","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-059198","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Financial incentives, provided following validated smoking cessation, hold substantial potential to cost-effectively promote cessation. To facilitate wider adoption, we systematically reviewed evidence addressing the barriers and facilitators to successful implementation of incentive-based smoking cessation interventions among (expectant) parents.</p><p><strong>Data sources: </strong>We conducted a systematic search to identify scientific and grey literature across nine electronic databases, from inception to 15 August 2024. Search terms included combinations of \"smoking cessation\", \"incentive\", \"pregnancy\", \"preconception\" and \"parent\".</p><p><strong>Study selection: </strong>Eligible records reported and reflected on the implementation of smoking cessation programmes with incentives for (expectant) parents. Inclusion criteria were applied by two reviewers independently, with discrepancies resolved through consensus. Of 1100 unique records identified, 37 met inclusion criteria.</p><p><strong>Data extraction: </strong>Characteristics of the studies, interventions, incentives and implementation, along with barriers and facilitators, were independently extracted by two reviewers. Thematic analysis identified barriers and facilitators. Subgroup analysis explored patterns specific to lower socioeconomic populations.</p><p><strong>Data synthesis: </strong>Studies reported on implementation in the USA (n=18), UK (n=10), Australia (n=4), the Netherlands (n=2), New Zealand (n=1), France (n=1) and international contexts (n=1). Barriers included misalignment with participants' context and resources, recruitment and retention challenges, limited reliability of abstinence verification and high resource demands. Facilitators included ensuring acceptability, accessibility, feasibility, funding and integration into health services.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>With the cost-effectiveness of financial incentives for smoking cessation among (expectant) parents already well-documented, this first systematic synthesis of the barriers and facilitators to implementing them in daily practice offers valuable guidance for advancing implementation efforts.</p><p><strong>Prospero registration number: </strong>2023:CRD42023407648.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143983060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-04-18DOI: 10.1136/tc-2025-059318
Reiner Hanewinkel, Clemens Neumann, Matthis Morgenstern
{"title":"Depictions of tobacco and e-cigarettes in popular US, French and German music videos.","authors":"Reiner Hanewinkel, Clemens Neumann, Matthis Morgenstern","doi":"10.1136/tc-2025-059318","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2025-059318","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144045077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-04-17DOI: 10.1136/tc-2025-059284
Kevin R J Schroth, Eric Proshansky
{"title":"How state and local affirmative litigation can rein in illicit flavoured e-cigarettes.","authors":"Kevin R J Schroth, Eric Proshansky","doi":"10.1136/tc-2025-059284","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2025-059284","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144047954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}