Brand fading: The effects of gradual changes to low tar and nicotine cigarettes on smoking rate, carbon monoxide, and thiocyanate levels

Abstract

Recently, health service providers have been concerned with alternatives to abstinence as goals for the treatment of smoking. One alternative, low tar and nicotine cigarette smoking, has been examined at length, but evidence on the health effects of this alternative for the individual smoker has been contradictory. Further, the majority of studies which have examined low tar and nicotine smoking have been primarily laboratory-based studies and have not resembled more practical strategies for changing to low tar and nicotine cigarettes. The present study examined the effects of progressive reductions in the tar and nicotine content of cigarettes consumed by individuals in a smoking treatment program. Carbon monoxide levels, thiocyanate levels, and rate of consumption were monitored in nine single subject replications of the tar and nicotine reduction procedure. Data from the majority of smokers indicated decreased risk on both direct (alveolar carbon monoxide and saliva thiocyanate levels) and indirect (rate of consumption) measures of tobacco exposure. Thus, the reduction procedure has important implications for smoking treatment and decreased health risk.