Raymond S Niaura
Raymond S Niaura
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Interim Chair of the Department of Epidemiology
Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences
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Professional overview
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Dr. Raymond Niaura is a psychologist and an expert on tobacco dependence and treatment, as well as substance use and addiction to alcohol. Dr. Niaura researches the biobehavioral substrates of tobacco dependence, including factors that influence adolescent and early adult tobacco use trajectories. He also evaluates behavioral and pharmacological treatments for tobacco cessation, with a particular interest in cessation in disadvantaged population to address public health disparities in tobacco-related burdens of illness and disability.
For eight year, Dr. Niaura was the Director of Science and Training at the Schroeder Institute (SI) for Tobacco Research and Policy Studies at the Truth Initiative, where he also supervised the pre- and post-doctoral training programs. Dr. Niaura has previously taught and conducted research at Brown University, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Georgetown Medical Center, and the School of Public Health at University of Maryland. He was also a former President of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco and is a Deputy Editor of the Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
With grants from the National Institutes of Health, numerous foundations, and private industry, Dr. Niaura has published over 400 peer-reviewed articles, commentaries, and book chapters, including the book The Tobacco Dependence Treatment Handbook: A Guide to Best Practices.
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Education
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BA, Psychology (First Class Honors), McGill University, Montreal, CanadaMS, Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJPhD, Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
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Honors and awards
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Research Laureate, American Academy of Health Behavior (2009)University Scholar Award, McGill University (1979)
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Areas of research and study
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Alcohol, Tobacco and Driving PoliciesEvaluationsHealth DisparitiesSubstance AbuseTobacco Control
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Publications
Publications
Young adult non-smokers' exposure to real-world tobacco marketing: Results of an ecological momentary assessment pilot study
AbstractRose, S. W., Anesetti-Rothermel, A., Elmasry, H., & Niaura, R. (n.d.).Publication year
2017Journal title
BMC research notesVolume
10Issue
1AbstractBackground: The aims of this pilot study were to assess and characterize non-current smoking young adults' exposure to tobacco marketing through an ecological momentary assessment protocol. Methods: Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) consists of repeated measurement of momentary phenomena and is well-suited to capture sporadic experiences in the real-world, such as exposure to tobacco marketing. EMA has the potential to capture detailed information about real-world marketing exposures in ways that reduce recall bias and increase ecological validity. In this study, young adults (n = 31; ages 18-25) responded to random prompts regarding their momentary exposure to tobacco marketing via text messages on their smartphones for 14 days (n = 1798 observations). Unadjusted and adjusted analyses were conducted using multilevel logistic regression to assess the odds of exposure accounting for correlation of multiple repeated measures within individuals while controlling for variability between individuals. Results: Respondents reported, on average, two momentary exposures to tobacco advertising in the 14-day study period. In adjusted analyses, African-American (aOR 3.36; 95% CI 1.07, 10.54) and Hispanic respondents (aOR 5.08; 95% CI 1.28, 20.13) were more likely to report exposure to tobacco advertising. Respondents were also more likely to report exposure when also exposed to others using tobacco products and when they were at stores compared with at home (aOR 14.82; 95% CI 3.61, 60.88). Conclusion: Non-smoking young adults report exposure to tobacco marketing particularly at the point-of-sale, with the highest likelihood of exposure among African-American and Hispanic young people. EMA protocols can be effective in assessing the potential impact of point-of-sale tobacco marketing on young adults.An experimental study of the effects of electronic cigarette warnings on young adult nonsmokers' perceptions and behavioral intentions
AbstractMays, D., Smith, C., Johnson, A. C., Tercyak, K. P., & Niaura, R. S. (n.d.).Publication year
2016Journal title
Tobacco Induced DiseasesVolume
14Issue
1AbstractBackground: Electronic cigarette ("e-cigarette") manufacturers use warning labels on their advertising that vary widely in content and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning label requirement for e-cigarettes. There is limited data on the effects of these warnings on e-cigarette perceptions and other potential predictors of future tobacco use behavior in populations of interest to inform future regulatory requirements. This study examined the effects of e-cigarette warnings on perceptions of e-cigarettes and cigarettes and other cognitive precursors to tobacco use among young adult non-smokers. Methods: Non-smoking young adults ages 18 to 30 years (n = 436) were recruited through an internet-based crowdsourcing platform for an online experiment. Participants completed pre-exposure measures of demographics, tobacco use, and other relevant constructs and were randomized to view 1 of 9 e-cigarette stimuli in a 3 (Ad/Warning condition: Ad Only, Ad with Warning, Warning Only) x 3 (E-cigarette brand: Blu, MarkTen, Vuse) design. After viewing e-cigarette stimuli, participants reported perceptions of e-cigarettes and behavioral intentions to use e-cigarettes. Participants in the Ad Only and Ad with Warning conditions also completed a heat-mapping task assessing aspects of the ads that captured their attention. Then, participants were randomized to view cigarette ads from 1 of 3 major cigarette brands and reported perceptions of cigarettes and intentions to smoke cigarettes. Results: Participants in the Warning Only condition reported significantly greater perceived harm and addictiveness of e-cigarettes and thoughts about not using e-cigarettes than the Ad Only and Ad with Warning conditions (p's <.05). The Ad Only and Ad with Warning conditions did not differ on these outcomes. Participants in the Warning Only condition also reported the harms of e-cigarettes were closer to those of cigarettes than the Ad Only condition (p <.05), but neither differed from the Ad with Warning condition. Visual inspection of heat-mapping task data indicate warnings drew few participants' attention. There were no significant differences across study conditions on perceptions of cigarettes or intentions to smoke. Conclusions: Text-based warning messages influenced young non-smokers' perceptions in a way that may dissuade e-cigarette use, but warnings appearing on advertisements had little impact.Baseline Characteristics and Generalizability of Participants in an Internet Smoking Cessation Randomized Trial
AbstractCha, S., Erar, B., Niaura, R. S., & Graham, A. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2016Journal title
Annals of Behavioral MedicineVolume
50Issue
5Page(s)
751-761AbstractBackground: The potential for sampling bias in Internet smoking cessation studies is widely recognized. However, few studies have explicitly addressed the issue of sample representativeness in the context of an Internet smoking cessation treatment trial. Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to examine the generalizability of participants enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of an Internet smoking cessation intervention using weighted data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Methods: A total of 5290 new users on a smoking cessation website enrolled in the trial between March 2012 and January 2015. Descriptive statistics summarized baseline characteristics of screened and enrolled participants, and multivariate analysis examined predictors of enrollment. Generalizability analyses compared demographic and smoking characteristics of trial participants to current smokers in the 2012–2014 waves of NHIS (n = 19,043) and to an NHIS subgroup based on Internet use and cessation behavior (n = 3664). Effect sizes were obtained to evaluate the magnitude of differences across variables. Results: Predictors of study enrollment were age, gender, race, education, and motivation to quit. Compared to NHIS smokers, trial participants were more likely to be female, college educated, and daily smokers and to have made a quit attempt in the past year (all effect sizes 0.25–0.60). In comparisons with the NHIS subgroup, differences in gender and education were attenuated, while differences in daily smoking and smoking rate were amplified. Conclusions: Few differences emerged between Internet trial participants and nationally representative samples of smokers, and all were in expected directions. This study highlights the importance of assessing generalizability in a focused and specific manner. ClinicalTrials.gov:Changes in the prevalence and correlates of menthol cigarette use in the USA, 2004–2014
AbstractVillanti, A. C., Mowery, P. D., Delnevo, C. D., Niaura, R. S., Abrams, D. B., & Giovino, G. A. (n.d.).Publication year
2016Journal title
Tobacco controlVolume
25Page(s)
ii14-ii20AbstractIntroduction National data from 2004 to 2010 showed that despite decreases in non-menthol cigarette use prevalence, menthol cigarette use prevalence remained constant in adolescents and adults and increased in young adults. The purpose of the current study was to extend these analyses through 2014. Methods We estimated the prevalence of menthol cigarette smoking in the USA during 2004-2014 using annual cross-sectional data on persons aged ≥12 years from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Self-reported menthol status for selected brands that were either exclusively menthol or non-menthol were adjusted based on retail sales data. Data were weighted to provide national estimates. Results Although overall smoking prevalence has decreased, the proportion of past 30-day cigarette smokers using menthol cigarettes was higher (39%) in 2012-2014 compared to 2008-2010 (35%). Youth smokers remain the most likely group to use menthol cigarettes compared to all other age groups. Menthol cigarette prevalence has increased in white, Asian and Hispanic smokers since 2010. Menthol cigarette prevalence exceeded non-menthol cigarette prevalence in youth and young adult smokers in 2014. Among smokers, menthol cigarette use was positively correlated with co-use of cigars. Menthol cigarette and smokeless tobacco co-use also increased from 2004 to 2014. Conclusions The youngest smokers are most likely to use menthol cigarettes. Among smokers, increases in overall menthol cigarette use and menthol cigarette use in whites, Asians and Hispanics since 2010 are of concern. There is tremendous urgency to limit the impact of menthol cigarettes on public health, particularly the health of youth and young adults.Characteristics of U.S. Substance abuse treatment facilities offering HIV services: Results from a national survey
AbstractCohn, A., Stanton, C., Elmasry, H., Ehlke, S., & Niaura, R. (n.d.).Publication year
2016Journal title
Psychiatric ServicesVolume
67Issue
6Page(s)
692-695AbstractObjective: Substance use disorders are common among persons with HIV/AIDS. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of the provision of four HIV services in a national sample of substance abuse treatment facilities. Methods: Data were from the 2011 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services. Results: Prevalence estimates indicated that 28% of facilities offered HIV testing, 26% early intervention, 58% HIV/AIDS education, and 8% special programs for HIV/AIDS. Facilities offering inpatient substance abuse care were more than six times as likely to offer HIV testing but not more likely to offer any other type of HIV service. Facilities offering methadone treatment were 2.5 times more likely to offer HIV services. Conclusions: Given the high rates of substance use among persons with HIV, the prevalence of facilities offering HIV services was low in most domains, with different barriers identified in multivariable models. Integrating comprehensive HIV prevention, testing, and support services into programs that address substance abuse is needed.Epigenetic Regulation of Placental NR3C1: Mechanism Underlying Prenatal Programming of Infant Neurobehavior by Maternal Smoking?
AbstractStroud, L. R., Papandonatos, G. D., Salisbury, A. L., Phipps, M. G., Huestis, M. A., Niaura, R., Padbury, J. F., Marsit, C. J., & Lester, B. M. (n.d.).Publication year
2016Journal title
Child developmentVolume
87Issue
1Page(s)
49-60AbstractEpigenetic regulation of the placental glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) was investigated as a mechanism underlying links between maternal smoking during pregnancy (MSDP) and infant neurobehavior in 45 mother-infant pairs (49% MSDP-exposed; 52% minorities; ages 18-35). The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Network Neurobehavioral Scale was administered 7 times over the 1st postnatal month; methylation of placental NR3C1 was assessed via bisulfite pyrosequencing. Increased placental NR3C1 methylation was associated with increased infant attention and self-regulation, and decreased lethargy and need for examiner soothing over the 1st postnatal month. A causal steps approach revealed that NR3C1 methylation and MSDP were independently associated with lethargic behavior. Although preliminary, results highlight the importance of epigenetic mechanisms in elucidating pathways to neurobehavioral alterations from MSDP.Impact of Exposure to Electronic Cigarette Advertising on Susceptibility and Trial of Electronic Cigarettes and Cigarettes in US Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
AbstractVillanti, A. C., Rath, J. M., Williams, V. F., Pearson, J. L., Richardson, A., Abrams, D. B., Niaura, R. S., & Vallone, D. M. (n.d.).Publication year
2016Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
18Issue
5Page(s)
1331-1339AbstractIntroduction: This study assessed the impact of brief exposure to four electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) print advertisements (ads) on perceptions, intention, and subsequent use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes in US young adults. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in a national sample of young adults from an online panel survey in 2013. Participants were randomized to ad exposure or control. Curiosity, intentions, and perceptions regarding e-cigarettes were assessed post-exposure and e-cigarette and cigarette use at 6-month follow-up. Analyses were conducted in 2014. Results: Approximately 6% of young adults who had never used an e-cigarette at baseline tried an e-cigarette at 6-month follow-up, half of whom were current cigarette smokers at baseline. Compared to the control group, ad exposure was associated with greater curiosity to try an e-cigarette (18.3% exposed vs. 11.3% unexposed, AOR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.18, 2.26) among never e-cigarette users and greater likelihood of e-cigarette trial at follow-up (3.6% exposed vs. 1.2% unexposed, AOR = 2.85; 95% CI = 1.07, 7.61) among never users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Exploratory analyses did not find an association between ad exposure and cigarette trial or past 30-day use among never users, nor cigarette use among smokers over time. Curiosity mediated the relationship between ad exposure and e-cigarette trial among e-cigarette never users. Conclusions: Exposure to e-cigarette ads may enhance curiosity and limited trial of e-cigarettes in never users. Future studies are needed to examine the net effect of curiosity and trial of e-cigarettes on longer-term patterns of tobacco use. Implications: This randomized trial provides the first evidence of the effect of e-cigarette advertising on a behavioral outcome in young adults. Compared to the control group, ad exposure was associated with greater curiosity to try an e-cigarette among never e-cigarette users and greater likelihood of e-cigarette trial at follow-up in a small number of never e-cigarette users and greater likelihood of e-cigarette trial at follow-up among never users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes.Mathematical modeling in tobacco control research: Initial Results From a Systematic Review
AbstractFeirman, S. P., Donaldson, E., Glasser, A. M., Pearson, J. L., Niaura, R., Rose, S. W., Abrams, D. B., & Villanti, A. C. (n.d.).Publication year
2016Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
18Issue
3Page(s)
229-242AbstractObjectives: The US Food and Drug Administration has expressed interest in using mathematical models to evaluate potential tobacco policies. The goal of this systematic review was to synthesize data from tobacco control studies that employ mathematical models. Methods: We searched five electronic databases on July 1, 2013 to identify published studies that used a mathematical model to project a tobacco-related outcome and developed a data extraction form based on the ISPOR-SMDM Modeling Good Research Practices. We developed an organizational framework to categorize these studies and identify models employed across multiple papers. We synthesized results qualitatively, providing a descriptive synthesis of included studies. Results: The 263 studies in this review were heterogeneous with regard to their methodologies and aims. We used the organizational framework to categorize each study according to its objective and map the objective to a model outcome. We identified two types of study objectives (trend and policy/intervention) and three types of model outcomes (change in tobacco use behavior, change in tobaccorelated morbidity or mortality, and economic impact). Eighteen models were used across 118 studies. Conclusions: This paper extends conventional systematic review methods to characterize a body of literature on mathematical modeling in tobacco control. The findings of this synthesis can inform the development of new models and the improvement of existing models, strengthening the ability of researchers to accurately project future tobacco-related trends and evaluate potential tobacco control policies and interventions. These findings can also help decision-makers to identify and become oriented with models relevant to their work.Medical costs and quality-adjusted life years associated with smoking: A systematic review
AbstractFeirman, S. P., Glasser, A. M., Teplitskaya, L., Holtgrave, D. R., Abrams, D. B., Niaura, R. S., & Villanti, A. C. (n.d.).Publication year
2016Journal title
BMC public healthVolume
16Issue
1AbstractBackground: Estimated medical costs ("T") and QALYs ("Q") associated with smoking are frequently used in cost-utility analyses of tobacco control interventions. The goal of this study was to understand how researchers have addressed the methodological challenges involved in estimating these parameters. Methods: Data were collected as part of a systematic review of tobacco modeling studies. We searched five electronic databases on July 1, 2013 with no date restrictions and synthesized studies qualitatively. Studies were eligible for the current analysis if they were U.S.-based, provided an estimate for Q, and used a societal perspective and lifetime analytic horizon to estimate T. We identified common methods and frequently cited sources used to obtain these estimates. Results: Across all 18 studies included in this review, 50 % cited a 1992 source to estimate the medical costs associated with smoking and 56 % cited a 1996 study to derive the estimate for QALYs saved by quitting or preventing smoking. Approaches for estimating T varied dramatically among the studies included in this review. T was valued as a positive number, negative number and $0; five studies did not include estimates for T in their analyses. The most commonly cited source for Q based its estimate on the Health Utilities Index (HUI). Several papers also cited sources that based their estimates for Q on the Quality of Well-Being Scale and the EuroQol five dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D). Conclusions: Current estimates of the lifetime medical care costs and the QALYs associated with smoking are dated and do not reflect the latest evidence on the health effects of smoking, nor the current costs and benefits of smoking cessation and prevention. Given these limitations, we recommend that researchers conducting economic evaluations of tobacco control interventions perform extensive sensitivity analyses around these parameter estimates.Patterns of electronic cigarette use among adults in the United States
AbstractDelnevo, C. D., Giovenco, D. P., Steinberg, M. B., Villanti, A. C., Pearson, J. L., Niaura, R. S., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2016Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
18Issue
5Page(s)
715-719AbstractIntroduction: Amid increasing rates of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use in the United States, there is an urgent need to monitor patterns of use at the population level in order to inform practice, policy and regulation. This article examines how patterns of e-cigarette use among adults differ between users and nonusers of cigarettes using the most current national data. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2014 National Health Interview Survey. We estimated prevalence of ever, current, and daily e-cigarette use and examined how use patterns differed by demographic subgroups and measures of cigarette smoking status that accounted for the recent availability of e-cigarettes in the US marketplace. Results: Current e-cigarette use is extremely low among never cigarette smokers (0.4%) and former smokers who quit cigarettes 4 or more years ago (0.8%). Although e-cigarette experimentation is most common among current cigarette smokers and young adults, daily use is highest among former smokers who quit in the past year (13.0%) and older adults. Compared to daily cigarette smokers, recently quit smokers were more than four times as likely to be daily users of e-cigarettes (AOR: 4.33 [95% CI: 3.08-6.09]). Conclusions: Extremely low e-cigarette use among never-smokers and longer term former smokers suggest that e-cigarettes neither promote widespread initiation nor relapse among adults. Recognition of the heterogeneity of smokers, including the time since quitting, is critical to draw accurate conclusions about patterns of e-cigarette use at the population level and its potential for public health benefit or harm. Implications: Data from 2014 National Health Interview Survey indicate that e-cigarettes have not been attracting adult non-smokers or promoting relapse in longer term former smokers. Moreover, the data are suggestive that some recent quitters may have done so with the assistance of e-cigarettes. Creating measures of smoking status that treat former smokers as a homogenous group is insufficient to assess the epidemiology of e-cigarette use and the potential impact on public health.Smoking Status and Substance Use Treatment Outcomes Among Spanish Speakers Enrolled in Substance Abuse Treatment
AbstractDe Dios, M. A., Cano, M. Ángel, Childress, S., Vaughan, E., Cerna, Y., & Niaura, R. (n.d.).Publication year
2016Journal title
Journal of Clinical PsychologyVolume
72Issue
10Page(s)
1037-1048AbstractOBJECTIVE: Smoking is highly prevalent among individuals with drug and alcohol disorders. Concurrent tobacco dependence treatment during substance use disorder (SUD) treatment is supported, yet the association between SUD treatment outcomes and smoking status has been understudied in minorities, including Latinos.METHOD: Participants were 322 Spanish-speaking Latinos enrolled in a SUD treatment study in 5 U.S. cities. Logistic regression examined associations between baseline smoking status and treatment outcomes for nontobacco substance use at follow-up. Covariates included age, gender, level of education, marital status, treatment group, and mandated treatment status.CONCLUSIONS: Findings contribute to the growing literature indicating a possible beneficial effect of smoking cessation services on SUD treatment, specifically among Latinos. Further research is needed to identify ideal smoking cessation treatments for Latinos.RESULTS: Results indicated smokers had a reduced likelihood of abstinence for all nontobacco substances (p = .001) and their primary drug of use (p = .007).The impact of health warning labels for Swedish snus advertisements on young adults' snus perceptions and behavioral intentions
AbstractMays, D., Moran, M. B., Levy, D. T., & Niaura, R. S. (n.d.).Publication year
2016Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
18Issue
5Page(s)
1371-1375AbstractIntroduction: This study examined the impact of warning labels conveying the potential harms and addictiveness of Swedish snus and the potential-reduced harms of Swedish snus among young adult nonsmokers and smokers. Methods: A convenience sample of young adults aged 18-30 residing in the United States (n = 517, 56% male, 33% smokers) participated in an online experiment. Participants completed baseline measures and were randomized to 1 of 5 experimental conditions where they viewed a Swedish snus ad with warning labels that varied by condition: (1) Control-no warning; (2) Addiction- warning conveying the addictiveness of snus; (3) Harm-warning communicating the potential harms of snus; (4) Harm Reduction-warning conveying the potential-reduced harms of snus compared with cigarettes; (5) Harm Reduction Switch-warning communicating the potential-reduced harms of snus when switching completely from cigarettes to snus. Outcomes measured included perceived harms and addictiveness of snus, thoughts about not using snus, and intentions to use snus. Results: Participants in the Harm Reduction and Harm Reduction Switch conditions perceived snus to be less harmful than cigarettes compared with the Control, Addiction, and Harm conditions. Nonsmokers in the Harm Reduction condition reported fewer thoughts about not using snus than nonsmokers in the Harm condition. Conclusions: Warnings conveying the potential-reduced harms of Swedish snus compared with cigarettes generate perceptions that snus is less harmful than cigarettes and produce fewer thoughts about not using snus among nonsmokers. Such perceptions have been associated with snus use in prior studies.The Influence of Social Support on Smoking Cessation Treatment Adherence Among HIV+ Smokers
AbstractDe Dios, M. A., Stanton, C. A., Cano, M. Ángel, Lloyd-Richardson, E., & Niaura, R. (n.d.).Publication year
2016Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
18Issue
5Page(s)
1126-1133AbstractIntroduction: The high prevalence of smoking among people living with HIV is a significant problem. Nonadherence to smoking cessation pharmacotherapy is a barrier for successfully quitting. The current study investigated the extent to which social support variables impact adherence and cessation. Methods: Participants were 444 HIV+ smokers who provided data on nicotine patch adherence, social support, and smoking. We conducted a path analysis to estimate (1) the effects of six social support indicators at baseline on nicotine patch adherence; (2) the effect of patch adherence on 7-day point prevalence smoking at 6-month follow-up; and (3) the indirect effects of social support indicators on 7-day point prevalence smoking at 6-month follow-up via patch adherence. Results: The tested model demonstrated good fit as indicated by the comparative fit index, root mean square error of approximation, and weighted root mean square residual (0.94, 0.02, and 0.51, respectively). Path analysis results indicated greater social support network contact was associated with higher levels of nicotine patch adherence (ß = .13, P = .02), greater patch adherence was associated with a lower probability of 7-day point prevalence smoking at 6-month follow-up (ß = -.47, P < .001) and greater social support network contact (ß = -.06, P = .03) had a significant indirect effect on 7-day point prevalence smoking at 6-month follow-up via patch adherence. Conclusions: Findings have implications for smoking cessation interventions that seek to capitalize on the beneficial effects of social support. Such efforts should account for the role that frequency of contact may have on nicotine patch use and other treatment-related mechanisms.Varenicline and suicide: Reconsidered and reconciled
Niaura, R. (n.d.).Publication year
2016Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
18Issue
1Page(s)
1Young adult smokers' neural response to graphic cigarette warning labels
AbstractGreen, A. E., Mays, D., Falk, E. B., Vallone, D., Gallagher, N., Richardson, A., Tercyak, K. P., Abrams, D. B., & Niaura, R. S. (n.d.).Publication year
2016Journal title
Addictive Behaviors ReportsVolume
3Page(s)
28-32AbstractIntroduction: The study examined young adult smokers' neural response to graphic warning labels (GWLs) on cigarette packs using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods: Nineteen young adult smokers (M age 22.9, 52.6% male, 68.4% non-white, M 4.3 cigarettes/day) completed pre-scan, self-report measures of demographics, cigarette smoking behavior, and nicotine dependence, and an fMRI scanning session. During the scanning session participants viewed cigarette pack images (total 64 stimuli, viewed 4 s each) that varied based on the warning label (graphic or visually occluded control) and pack branding (branded or plain packaging) in an event-related experimental design. Participants reported motivation to quit (MTQ) in response to each image using a push-button control. Whole-brain blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) functional images were acquired during the task. Results: GWLs produced significantly greater self-reported MTQ than control warnings (p < .001). Imaging data indicate stronger neural activation in response to GWLs than the control warnings at a cluster-corrected threshold p < .001 in medial prefrontal cortex, amygdala, medial temporal lobe, and occipital cortex. There were no significant differences in response to warnings on branded versus plain cigarette packages. Conclusions: In this sample of young adult smokers, GWLs promoted neural activation in brain regions involved in cognitive and affective decision-making and memory formation and the effects of GWLs did not differ on branded or plain cigarette packaging. These findings complement other recent neuroimaging GWL studies conducted with older adult smokers and with adolescents by demonstrating similar patterns of neural activation in response to GWLs among young adult smokers.Cigarette packaging and health warnings: The impact of plain packaging and message framing on young smokers
AbstractMays, D., Niaura, R. S., Evans, W. D., Hammond, D., Luta, G., & Tercyak, K. P. (n.d.).Publication year
2015Journal title
Tobacco controlVolume
24Page(s)
e87-e92AbstractObjective This study examined the impact of pictorial cigarette-warning labels, warning-label message framing and plain cigarette packaging, on young adult smokers’ motivation to quit. Methods Smokers aged 18–30 years (n=740) from a consumer research panel were randomised to one of four experimental conditions where they viewed online images of four cigarette packs with warnings about lung disease, cancer, stroke/heart disease and death, respectively. Packs differed across conditions by warningmessage framing (gain vs loss) and packaging (branded vs plain). Measures captured demographics, smoking behaviour, covariates and motivation to quit in response to cigarette packs. Results Pictorial warnings about lung disease and cancer generated the strongest motivation to quit across conditions. Adjusting for pretest motivation and covariates, a message framing by packaging interaction revealed gain-framed warnings on plain packs generated greater motivation to quit for lung disease, cancer and mortality warnings ( p<0.05), compared with loss-framed warnings on plain packs. Conclusions Warnings combining pictorial depictions of smoking-related health risks with text-based messages about how quitting reduces risks, may achieve better outcomes among young adults, especially in countries considering or implementing plain packaging regulations.Cigarettes: The Rise and Decline But Not Demise of the Greatest Behavioral Health Disaster of the 20th Century
Abrams, D., Glasser, A., Villanti, A., & Niaura, R. (n.d.). In R. Kaplan, M. Spittel, & D. David (Eds.), Population health: Behavioral and social science insights (1–).Publication year
2015Page(s)
143-168Differential trends in cigarette smoking in the USA: Is menthol slowing progress?
AbstractGiovino, G. A., Villanti, A. C., Mowery, P. D., Sevilimedu, V., Niaura, R. S., Vallone, D. M., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2015Journal title
Tobacco controlVolume
24Issue
1Page(s)
28-37AbstractIntroduction: Mentholated cigarettes are at least as dangerous to an individual’s health as non-mentholated varieties. The addition of menthol to cigarettes reduces perceived harshness of smoke, which can facilitate initiation. Here, we examine correlates of menthol use, national trends in smoking menthol and non-menthol cigarettes, and brand preferences over time.Methods: We estimated menthol cigarette use during 2004–2010 using annual data on persons ≥12 years old from the National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. We adjusted self-reported menthol status for selected brands that were either exclusively menthol or nonmenthol, based on sales data. Data were weighted to provide national estimates.Results: Among cigarette smokers, menthol cigarette use was more common among 12–17 year olds (56.7%) and 18–25 year olds (45.0%) than among older persons (range 30.5% to 34.7%). In a multivariable analysis, menthol use was associated with being younger, female and of non-Caucasian race/ethnicity. Among all adolescents, the percentage who smoked non-menthol cigarettes decreased from 2004–2010, while menthol smoking rates remained constant; among all young adults, the percentage who smoked non-menthol cigarettes also declined, while menthol smoking rates increased. The use of Camel menthol and Marlboro menthol increased among adolescent and young adult smokers, particularly non-Hispanic Caucasians, during the study period.Conclusions: Young people are heavy consumers of mentholated cigarettes. Progress in reducing youth smoking has likely been attenuated by the sale and marketing of mentholated cigarettes, including emerging varieties of established youth brands. This study should inform the Food and Drug Administration regarding the potential public health impact of a menthol ban.E-Cigarettes and smoking cessation: Insights and cautions from a secondary analysis of data from a study of online treatment-seeking smokers
AbstractPearson, J. L., Stanton, C. A., Cha, S., Niaura, R. S., Luta, G., & Graham, A. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2015Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
17Issue
10Page(s)
1219-1227AbstractBackground: Evidence from observational studies regarding the association between electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use and cessation is mixed and difficult to interpret. Utilizing 2 analytic methods, this study illustrates challenges common in analyses of observational data, highlights measurement challenges, and reports associations between e-cigarette use and smoking cessation. Methods: Data were drawn from an ongoing web-based smoking cessation trial. The sample was comprised of 2,123 participants with complete 3-month follow-up data. Logistic regression models with and without entropy balancing to control for confounds were conducted to evaluate the association between e-cigarette use and 30-day cigarette smoking abstinence. Results: At follow-up, 31.7% of participants reported using e-cigarettes to quit in the past 3 months. E-cigarette users differed from nonusers on baseline characteristics including cigarettes per day, Fagerström score, quit attempt in the past year, and previous use of e-cigarettes to quit. At followup, e-cigarette users made more quit attempts and employed more cessation aids than smokers who did not use e-cigarettes to quit. E-cigarette use was negatively associated with abstinence after adjustment for baseline characteristics; however, the association was not significant after additional adjustment for use of other cessation aids at 3 months. Conclusions: The magnitude and significance of the estimated association between e-cigarette use and cessation in this study were dependent upon the analytical approach. Observational studies should employ multiple analytic approaches to address threats to validity. Future research should employ better measures of patterns of and reasons for e-cigarette use, frequency of e-cigarette use, and concurrent use of cessation aids.Internet and telephone treatment for smoking cessation: Mediators and moderators of short-term abstinence
AbstractGraham, A. L., Papandonatos, G. D., Cobb, C. O., Cobb, N. K., Niaura, R. S., Abrams, D. B., & Tinkelman, D. G. (n.d.).Publication year
2015Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
17Issue
3Page(s)
299-308AbstractIntroduction: This study examined mediators and moderators of short-term treatment effectiveness from the iQUITT Study (Quit Using Internet and Telephone Treatment), a 3-arm randomized trial that compared an interactive smoking cessation Web site with an online social network (enhanced Internet) alone and in conjunction with proactive telephone counseling (enhanced Internet plus phone) to a static Internet comparison condition (basic Internet). Methods: The analytic sample was N = 1,236 participants with complete 3-month data on all mediating variables. The primary outcome was 30-day point prevalence abstinence (ppa) at 3 months. Recognizing the importance of temporal precedence in mediation analyses, we also present findings for 6-month outcomes. Purported mediators were treatment utilization and changes in psychosocial constructs. Proposed moderators included baseline demographic, smoking, and psychosocial variables. Mediation analyses examined the extent to which between-arm differences in 30-day ppa could be attributed to differential Web site utilization, telephone counseling, and associated changes in smoking self-efficacy and social support for quitting. Effect modification analyses fitted interactions between treatment and prespecified moderators on abstinence. Results: Significant mediators of 30-day ppa were changes in smoking temptations, quitting confidence, and positive and negative partner support, which were strongly associated with increased Web site utilization. The addition of telephone counseling to an enhanced Web site further improved abstinence rates, partly via an association with increased quitting confidence. Baseline smoking rate was the only significant moderator. Conclusions: Increased treatment utilization and associated changes in several psychosocial measures yielded higher abstinence rates. Findings validate the importance of treatment utilization, smoking self-efficacy, and social support to promote abstinence.Markov modeling to estimate the population health impact of emerging tobacco products: A proof-of-concept study
Niaura, R., & Al., . (n.d.).Publication year
2015Journal title
Tobacco Regulatory ScienceVolume
1Issue
2Page(s)
129-141Maternal-fetal attachment differentiates patterns of prenatal smoking and exposure
AbstractMassey, S. H., Bublitz, M. H., Magee, S. R., Salisbury, A., Niaura, R. S., Wakschlag, L. S., & Stroud, L. R. (n.d.).Publication year
2015Journal title
Addictive BehaviorsVolume
45Page(s)
51-56AbstractObjective: Smoking cessation during pregnancy may reflect altruistic motives on behalf of the unborn baby. We test the hypothesis that pregnancy quitters have higher maternal-fetal attachment than persistent smokers, and secondarily explore how maternal-fetal attachment differs among non-smokers, pregnancy quitters, and persistent smokers. Methods: Participants were 156 women in the Behavior and Mood in Babies and Mothers study who provided report of smoking throughout pregnancy via timeline follow back interviews, with salivary cotinine confirmation of reported cessation at 30 and 35. week gestation, and postpartum day one. Maternal Fetal Attachment Scale total and subscale scores (role-taking, differentiation of self from fetus, interaction with fetus, attributing characteristics to fetus, giving of self) were examined among non-smokers, pregnancy quitters, and persistent smokers. Results: At 30. weeks, pregnancy quitters scored higher on the 'giving of self' subscale compared to persistent smokers (21.6 ± 2.4 versus 19.9 ± 2.9; p= .004). Maternal 'giving of self' also differentiated pregnancies exposed to cigarette smoking from those without exposure from 30. weeks through delivery (19.9 ± 2.9 versus 21.2 ± 2.2; p= .002). Controlling for age, income, unemployment, gravida, and father's smoking status, 'giving of self' differentiated pregnancy quitters from persistent smokers [OR. = 5.144; 95% C.I. 1.509 - 17.538; B (SE). = 1.638 (626); p= .009]. Conclusions: Women who reported a greater desire to maintain their personal health for the health of their fetus were more likely to quit smoking during pregnancy. Implications of findings for interventions and understanding mechanisms of risk are discussed.Mathematical modelling in tobacco control research: Protocol for a systematic review
AbstractFeirman, S., Donaldson, E., Pearson, J., Zawistowski, G., Niaura, R., Glasser, A., & Villanti, A. C. (n.d.).Publication year
2015Journal title
BMJ openVolume
5Issue
4AbstractIntroduction: Tobacco control researchers have recently become more interested in systems science methods and mathematical modelling techniques as a means to understand how complex inter-relationships among various factors translate into population-level summaries of tobacco use prevalence and its associated medical and social costs. However, there is currently no resource that provides an overview of how mathematical modelling has been used in tobacco control research. This review will provide a summary of studies that employ modelling techniques to predict tobacco-related outcomes. It will also propose a conceptual framework for grouping existing modelling studies by their objectives. Methods and analysis: We will conduct a systematic review that is informed by Cochrane procedures, as well as guidelines developed for reviews that are specifically intended to inform policy and programme decision-making. We will search 5 electronic databases to identify studies that use a mathematical model to project a tobacco-related outcome. An online data extraction form will be developed based on the ISPOR-SMDM Modeling Good Research Practices. We will perform a qualitative synthesis of included studies. Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required for this study. An initial paper, published in a peer-reviewed journal, will provide an overview of our findings. Subsequent papers will provide greater detail on results within each study objective category and an assessment of the risk of bias of these grouped studies.Outcomes of a tailored intervention for cigarette smoking cessation among latinos living with HIV/AIDS
AbstractStanton, C. A., Papandonatos, G. D., Shuter, J., Bicki, A., Lloyd-Richardson, E. E., De Dios, M. A., Morrow, K. M., Makgoeng, S. B., Tashima, K. T., & Niaura, R. S. (n.d.).Publication year
2015Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
17Issue
8Page(s)
975-982AbstractIntroduction: Tobacco use has emerged as a leading killer among persons living with HIV, with effective approaches to tobacco treatment still unknown. HIV infection is nearly 3 times as prevalent in Latinos than in non-Latino Whites. This study reports the results of a randomized trial comparing a tailored intervention to brief counseling for smoking cessation among Latino smokers living with HIV (LSLWH). Methods: LSLWH (N = 302; 36% female, 10% employed full-time, 49% born in United States) were randomized to 4 in-person sessions of a tailored intervention (Aurora) or 2 in-person sessions of brief advice (enhanced standard care [ESC]). Both groups received 8 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) patch. Biochemically validated 6-and 12-month 7-day point-prevalence abstinence (PPA) rates were compared, along with secondary outcomes (e.g., reduction to light smoking, NRT adherence). Results: Seven-day PPA rates reached 8% versus 11% at 6 months and 6% versus 7% at 12 months, for Aurora and ESC, respectively, with no between-group differences (p values >.40). Significant changes from baseline to 6 and 12 months among intervention targets were noted (percentage reduction in heavy smoking and dependence; increases in knowledge and self-efficacy). Baseline smoking frequency, older age, and higher intensity of patch use during the trial emerged as significant predictors of abstinence at 6 months. Conclusions: There was no evidence that the tailored intervention improved cessation rates. Interventions that encourage use of, and adherence to, empirically validated cessation aids require further development to reduce tobacco-related death and disease in this vulnerable population.Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of the effect of varenicline on nicotine craving in adult smokers
AbstractRavva, P., Gastonguay, M. R., Faessel, H. M., Lee, T. C., & Niaura, R. (n.d.).Publication year
2015Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
17Issue
1Page(s)
106-113AbstractIntroduction: Varenicline has been shown to significantly reduce craving and several aspects of smoking reinforcement in clinical trials, compared with placebo. This is the first report describing the concentration-effect relationship of varenicline on relief of craving. Methods: The pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of a single 2 mg dose of varenicline were investigated in 40 smokers in a randomized, crossover study comparing the effect of varenicline with placebo on ameliorating abstinence-and cue-induced craving and withdrawal symptoms. Subjects were asked to complete self-reported questionnaires (Smoking Urges Scale and Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale [MNWS]) and blood samples were simultaneously collected for measurement of varenicline concentrations. Only the data from the 4-hr postdose abstinence period (just prior to the cue session) were analyzed. Data were described by a 2-compartment PK model and a linear PD model with first-order onset/offset rate constants describing the placebo response "kinetics." Response was described as the net effect of the baseline, placebo, and drug responses. Results: Varenicline significantly decreased mean craving score when compared with placebo and the magnitude of this response was related to varenicline concentration. The time-course and magnitude of both placebo and varenicline craving response were characterized by a large degree of unexplained variability. Simulations were used to illustrate the expected craving response over time and its associated random variability after chronic dosing. Conclusions: Craving reduction is associated with increased varenicline concentrations. The relatively rapid onset of this effect within 4 hr postdose suggests that, smokers may experience some craving relief after acute administration of varenicline.