Understanding tobacco-related attitudes among college and noncollege young adult hookah and cigarette users.

OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in tobacco-related attitudes and hookah and cigarette use among college and noncollege young adults. PARTICIPANTS: Time-location samples of young adult bar patrons in San Diego, California (N = 2,243), Tulsa (N = 2,095) and Oklahoma City (N = 2,200), Oklahoma, Albuquerque (N = 1,044) and Las Cruces (N = 894), New Mexico, between September 2009 and July 2011. METHODS: Multinomial logistic regression examined associations between hookah and cigarette use and tobacco-related attitudes. RESULTS: Current college students and graduates are less likely to smoke cigarettes, but more likely to use hookah. Among current hookah users, 22.6% were hookah-only users and 77.4% were dual users (cigarettes and hookah). College status is associated with different hookah use patterns, and those with anti-tobacco industry attitudes were more likely to smoke hookah. CONCLUSIONS: Novel interventions are needed for college students using hookah. Existing strategies targeting smokers with anti-tobacco industry messages may be irrelevant to hookah users.

Is snus the same as dip? Smokers' perceptions of new smokeless tobacco advertising.

BACKGROUND: Since 2006, leading US cigarette companies have been promoting new snus products as line extensions of popular cigarette brands. These promotional efforts include direct mail marketing to consumers on cigarette company mailing lists. This study examines smokers' reactions to this advertising and perceptions of the new snus products. METHODS: Eight focus groups (n=65 participants) were conducted in San Francisco and Los Angeles in 2010 with smokers who received tobacco direct mail advertising. The focus group discussions assessed smokers' perceptions of the new snus products. Focus group videos were transcribed and coded using Transana software to identify common themes. RESULTS: Most participants were aware of snus advertising and many had tried free samples. Most were aware that snus was supposed to be 'different' from traditional chewing tobacco but consistently did not know why. Participants willing to try snus still identified strongly as smokers, and for some participants, trying snus reinforced their preference for smoking. Snus' major benefits were use in smoke-free environments and avoiding social stigma related to secondhand smoke. Participants were sceptical of the idea that snus was safer than cigarettes and did not see it as an acceptable substitute for cigarettes or as a cessation aid. CONCLUSIONS: Smokers repeated some messages featured in early snus advertising. Snus was not seen as an acceptable substitute for smoking or way to quit cigarettes. Current smoker responses to snus advertising are not consistent with harm reduction.

Prevalence of and factors associated with cigarette smoking among university students: a study from Iran.

To determine the prevalence of cigarette use among college students and to identify correlates of cigarette smoking, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 1750 college students in the city of Kerman, located in southern Iran. The average age of college students was 21.2 ± 2.1 years. A total of 52% participants were female, 92% were single, and 11% (184) were smokers (22% of men and 2.4% of women). The average age of smoking initiation was 15.9 ± 4.5 years. A high association was shown with the use of cigarettes among close friends (odds ratio [OR] = 4.3), alcohol use (OR = 2.95), and being a male (OR = 2.81). Less cigarette use was shown among participants who prayed (OR = 0.52) and those with better academic standing (OR = 0.68). Based up the high prevalence of cigarette use among college students and also taking into account the correlates of cigarette use, gender-specific programs need to be tailored for cigarette use prevention among college students.

Does exercise deprivation increase the tendency towards morphine dependence in rats?

BACKGROUND: Exercise deprivation has been concluded to have some negative effectson psychological well-being. This study was conducted to find outwhether exercise deprivation may lead to morphine dependence in rats. METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats weighing 162 ± 9 g were housed in clear plasticcages in groups of two under standard laboratory conditions. The studyhad two phases. In phase I, the animals were randomly divided intoexercised (E) and unexercised (UE) groups (n = 20 each) and treadmillrunning was performed based on a standard protocol for three weeks. Atthe end of the training period, plasma ß-endorphin levels weredetermined in four rats from each group. In phase II, the animals wereprovided with two bottles, one containing tap water and the other 25mg/l morphine sulfate in tap water for a total of 12 weeks. At the end ofthis phase naloxone was injected intraperitoneally to precipitatemorphine withdrawal. FINDINGS: THERE WAS NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UE AND E GROUPS INMORPHINE CONSUMPTION (MG/KG/WK) [ GROUP: F(1,14) = 0.2, P = 0.690; time:F(11,154) =18.72, P < 0.001; interaction: F(11,154) = 1.27 , P = 0.245]. Nostatistically significant difference between the two groups of animals wasseen regarding withdrawal signs. CONCLUSION: The study showed that discontinuation of exercise does not increasethe tendency of morphine dependence in rats.