A five-year project will help menthol smokers quit by combining motivational messaging, incentives, and Quitline support to improve their chances of success.
Comparing Remotely Delivered Interventions To Promote Cessation Among Adults Who Smoke Menthol Cigarettes
Go to source). A new study from the University of Michigan aims to find the most effective methods for helping menthol smokers quit.
The five-year, multi-million dollar research project, funded by the nonprofit Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), will involve 1,200 adult menthol cigarette smokers.
Menthol Cigarettes Linked to Higher Mortality Risks
Discover the increased mortality risks linked to menthol cigarettes, including heart disease, based on a major study by the American Cancer Society.
Discover the increased mortality risks linked to menthol cigarettes, including heart disease, based on a major study by the American Cancer Society.
‘Did You Know?
Adult menthol smokers report taking less time to have their first cigarette after waking than non-menthol smokers. Time to first cigarette is an important indicator of nicotine addiction. #medindia #menthol #smokers’
Adult menthol smokers report taking less time to have their first cigarette after waking than non-menthol smokers. Time to first cigarette is an important indicator of nicotine addiction. #medindia #menthol #smokers’
Advertisement
Support through Incentives and Quitline Services
Half will receive motivational messages from an app along with the chance to get extra incentives to help them quit, if they submit daily breath tests. All participants will have access to coaching through partnership with state-run Quitlines.With menthol cigarette use especially common among people with low incomes, the initiative could help reduce the financial toll of smoking on individuals and the Medicaid program that provides health coverage to low-income Americans.
Advertisement
Menthol Cigarettes Increase Youth Smoking, Nicotine Addiction
A new study shows menthol cigarettes appear to have led youth to smoke more frequently and become more dependent on nicotine.
A new study shows menthol cigarettes appear to have led youth to smoke more frequently and become more dependent on nicotine.
Addressing Racial Disparities and Addiction
People who smoke menthol are more likely to be Black, contributing to the extra risk of early death in Black men especially.“With this funding support, we’ll have the chance to continue our work with the community to see how well the Tobacco Quitline support available to every American does at helping people quit menthol products, and also see the impact of an added incentive program that we’ve tested with our partners in Michigan,” said Lara Coughlin, Ph.D., an addiction psychologist at the U-M Addiction Center and the Michigan Medicine Department of Psychiatry. “Quitting menthol isn’t easy, but we hope to make it easier.”
Heavy-Drinking Smokers Find Quitting Cigarettes Tougher, Phone Counseling can Help
Heavy drinkers who smoke have a tougher time quitting cigarettes than smokers who drink moderately or do not consume alcohol at all.
Heavy drinkers who smoke have a tougher time quitting cigarettes than smokers who drink moderately or do not consume alcohol at all.
Incentives2Quit Program
Coughlin and Erin Bonar, Ph.D., also a U-M addiction psychologist, lead a team that developed the Incentives2Quit program, which combines a breath-analyzing carbon monoxide monitor and smartphone app with motivational messaging and small gift card incentives for hitting milestones in remaining tobacco-free. It’s already being used in pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid coverage in Michigan.The team developed the program using the latest behavioral science. They decided to focus on menthol through conversations with community partners, because menthol cigarettes have mint flavorings that make smoking less irritating and enhance nicotine addiction, making them harder to quit.
Modest Weight Gain After Quitting Smoking Even More Than Thought: Study
Giving up smoking leads to an average weight gain of four to five kilograms (nine to 11 pounds) in the first year, which is 'significantly' more than previously thought, a study found Wednesday.
Giving up smoking leads to an average weight gain of four to five kilograms (nine to 11 pounds) in the first year, which is 'significantly' more than previously thought, a study found Wednesday.
Recruitment and Long-Term Evaluation
They plan to recruit potential participants from people who call the Quitline program in five states and randomly assign those who enroll to receive a year of follow-up after that initial call or to receive the breath monitor and app with the chance to earn incentives for using Quitline coaches and hitting milestones.Quitlines are available nationwide through free calls and texts, and web-based support. They can help people who smoke or vape any form of tobacco get access to counseling about quitting, as well as medicines and patches that can reduce nicotine cravings and are covered by most insurance programs.
Assessing Impact on Smoking and Mental Health
The new project will test the long-term effectiveness of Quitline services, with or without the breath-testing incentive program. It will go beyond assessing impacts on participants’ smoking habits to also measure and compare impacts on their mental health, quality of life and other outcomes.“Every attempt to quit smoking menthol cigarettes is a good start, but sustaining that over months is particularly key to reducing the health effects of tobacco,” said Coughlin. “Our initiative will provide evidence that could help states, Quitlines, insurance plans, and others use their resources wisely.”
Reference:
- Comparing Remotely Delivered Interventions To Promote Cessation Among Adults Who Smoke Menthol Cigarettes - (https://www.pcori.org/research-results/2025/remote-delivery-interventions-smoking-cessation)
Source-Eurekalert
