Switching to low-tar cigarettes halves chance of quitting smoking

22 November 2009

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Smokers who switched to a low-tar, light or mild brand of cigarette had about a 50 percent lower chance of giving up smoking, according to a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study in the November issue of Tobacco Control.

"Forty-three percent of smokers reported a desire to quit smoking as a reason for switching to lighter cigarettes. While these individuals were the most likely to make an attempt, ironically, they were the least likely to quit smoking," said Hilary Tindle, MD, MPH, lead author of the study and assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Internal Medicine.

"It may be that smokers think that a lighter brand is better for their health and is therefore an acceptable alternative to giving up completely," added Dr Tindle.

The findings are based on more than 31,000 smokers in the United States who participated in the National Cancer Institute- and CDC-sponsored Tobacco Use Supplement and were quizzed in 2003 about whether they had switched to a milder/low-tar brand of cigarette and their reasons for the switch. They also were asked if they had attempted to give up smoking altogether during the previous 12 months, and whether they currently identified themselves as non-smokers.

The total sample included more than 29,000 people who were current smokers and almost 2,000 who reported having given up the habit for at least 90 days prior to the survey.

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