Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016 Jun;18(6):1424-30.
doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntv252. Epub 2015 Nov 7.

Use of High-Nicotine/Tar-Yield (Full-Flavor) Cigarettes and Risk for Nicotine Dependence in Nationally Representative Samples of US Smokers

Ryan Redner  1 , Thomas J White  2 , Janice Y Bunn  3 , Stephen T Higgins  4
Affiliations

Use of High-Nicotine/Tar-Yield (Full-Flavor) Cigarettes and Risk for Nicotine Dependence in Nationally Representative Samples of US Smokers

Ryan Redner et al. Nicotine Tob Res. 2016 Jun.

Abstract

Introduction: The present study examines whether use of machine-estimated high-nicotine/tar-yield (full-flavor) cigarettes predicts greater risk of nicotine dependence after controlling for the influence of potential confounding factors in US nationally representative samples.

Methods: Data were obtained from multiple years of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Nicotine dependence was measured by (1) the Nicotine Dependence Syndrome Scale and (2) latency to first cigarette after waking. Associations between use of high-nicotine/tar-yield cigarettes and risk for nicotine dependence were examined using multiple logistic regression.

Results: The odds of nicotine dependence were reliably greater among users of high- compared to lower-nicotine/tar-yield cigarettes even after adjusting for sociodemographic and other smoking characteristics (Ps < .0001). This relationship was (1) generally graded across differing nicotine/tar-yield cigarettes, (2) discernible across two definitions of nicotine dependence and multiple NSDUH survey years, and (3) observed among adult and adolescent smokers.

Conclusion: Use of high-nicotine/tar-yield cigarettes is associated with increased odds of nicotine dependence, a relationship that has important tobacco regulatory implications. Whether the widespread marketing and availability of high-nicotine/tar-yield cigarettes is increasing risk of nicotine dependence among US smokers warrants further research.

Implications: This study adds additional empirical evidence to the relation of machine measured high-yield cigarettes and likelihood of nicotine dependence, and draws some implications in regards to regulation.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Ashley DL, Backinger CL, van Bemmel DM, Neveleff DJ. Tobacco regulatory science: research to inform regulatory action at the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for tobacco products. Nicotine Tob Res. 2014;16(8):1045–1049. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntu038. - PubMed
    1. Benowitz NL, Henningfield JE. Establishing a nicotine threshold for addiction – the implications for tobacco regulation. New Engl J Med. 1994;331(2):123–125. doi:10.1056/NEJM199407143310212. - PubMed
    1. Scherer G, Lee PN. Smoking behavior and compensation: a review of the literature and meta-analysis. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2014;70(3):615–628. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2014.09.008. - PubMed
    1. Benowitz NL, Dains KM, Hall SM, et al. Progressive commercial cigarette yield reduction: biochemical exposure and behavioral assessment. Cancer Epidem BioMar. 2009;18(3):876–883. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-08-0731. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Gori GB, Lynch CJ. Analytical cigarette yields as predictors of smoke bioavailability. Regul Toxicol Pharm. 1985;5(3):314–326. doi:10.1016/0273-2300(85)90045-5. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources