David B Abrams
David Abrams
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Professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences
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Professional overview
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Dr. David Abrams' career focuses on systems and social learning frameworks to inform population health enhancement. He has experience in testing theory, research design, measuring mechanisms of behavior change and outcome, and evaluating clinical trials (behavioral and pharmacological). His interests span topics from basic bio-behavioral mechanisms and clinical treatments to policy across risk factors and behaviors (e.g. tobacco/nicotine; alcohol, obesity, co-morbidity of medical and mental health), disease states (cancer; cardiovascular; HIV-AIDS), levels (biological, individual, organizational, worksite, community, global, and internet based), populations and disparities. His interests converge in the domain of implementation science to cost-efficiently inform evidence-based public health practice and policymaking.
Through transdisciplinary and translational research strategies, Dr. Abrams provides scientific leadership in tobacco control. His current focus is in strengthening global and United States tobacco and nicotine management strategies. Deaths of 1 billion smokers are estimated by 2100 caused overwhelmingly by use of combustible (smoked) tobacco products, not nicotine. Harm minimization is a key overarching systems strategy to speed the net public health benefit of emergent disruptive technologies for cleaner nicotine delivery. The goal is more rapid elimination of preventable deaths, disease burdens, and the widening gap in health disparities driven disproportionately by disparities in smoking.
Dr. Abrams was a professor and founding director of the Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine at Brown University Medical School. He then directed the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Until 2017, he was Professor of Health Behavior and Society at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the founding Executive Director of the Schroeder National Institute of Tobacco Research and Policy Studies at Truth Initiative (formerly the American Legacy Foundation).
Dr. Abrams has published over 250 peer reviewed scholarly articles and been a Principal Investigator on numerous NIH grants. He is lead author of The Tobacco Dependence Treatment Handbook: A Guide to Best Practices. He has served on expert panels at NIH and National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine on Obesity, Alcohol Misuse and Ending the Tobacco Problem: A Blueprint for the Nation. He has also served on the Board of Scientific Advisors of the National Cancer Institute (NIH-NCI) and was President of the Society of Behavioral Medicine.
For a complete list of Dr. Abrams' published work, click here.
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Education
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BSc (Hons), Psychology and Computer Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaMS, Clinical Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJPhD, Clinical Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJPostdoctoral Fellow, Brown Medical School, Providence, RI
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Honors and awards
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Research Laureate Award, American Academy of Health Behavior (2014)Joseph W. Cullen Memorial Award for Tobacco Research, American Society for Preventive Oncology (2008)Distinguished Alumni Award: Rutgers University, The Graduate School, New Brunswick, NJ (2007)The Musiker-Miranda Distinguished Service Award, American Psychological Association (2006)Distinguished Service Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine (2006)Outstanding Research Mentor Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine (2006)Book of the Year Award: Tobacco Dependence Treatment Handbook. American Journal of Nursing (2005)Distinguished Scientist Award, Society of Behavioral Medicine (1998)
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Areas of research and study
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Behavioral ScienceChronic DiseasesEvaluationsImplementation and Impact of Public Health RegulationsImplementation sciencePopulation HealthPublic Health PedagogyPublic Health SystemsResearch DesignSystems IntegrationSystems InterventionsTobacco ControlTranslational science
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Publications
Publications
Does completing a craving questionnaire promote increased smoking craving? An experimental investigation
AbstractAbrams, D., Shadel, W. G., Niaura, R., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2001Journal title
Psychology of Addictive BehaviorsVolume
15Issue
3Page(s)
265-267AbstractThe authors evaluated whether completing a multi-item assessment of smoking craving (the Questionnaire of Smoking Urges [QSU]) promoted increases in smoking craving. A sample of 39 regular smokers was randomly assigned to 1 of 3 manipulations (each of 3 min duration): (a) complete the QSU-Brief (10 items), (b) complete a noncraving questionnaire that was structurally identical to the QSU-Brief (scale-based control), and (c) a time-based control. Participants responded to an oral question assessing their degree of craving immediately before and after the manipulations. Results indicated that the QSU did not promote increases in craving compared to the 2 control conditions. Despite continuing debate over the most appropriate self-report measure of craving, investigators who use the QSU-Brief can be reasonably sure that the scores that result are not biased due to reactivity effects.Does the five factor model of personality apply to smokers? A preliminary investigation
AbstractAbrams, D., Shadel, W. G., Niaura, R. S., Goldstein, M. G., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2000Journal title
Journal of Applied Biobehavioral ResearchVolume
5Issue
2Page(s)
114-120AbstractThe purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the Big Five personality dimensions and smoking variables. Thirty-seven smokers completed a standard, reliable 80-item bipolar measure of the Big Five trait dimensions, as well as measures of nicotine dependence, smoking exposure, and quitting history. Despite finding some significant zero-order relationships between a few of the dimensions and the smoking variables, only one of the partial correlational analyses that controlled for relationships among the personality dimensions in their associations with the nicotine dependence and smoking history variables was significant. These results indicate the need for further research on personality traits and smoking.Does the five factor model of personality apply to smokers? A preliminary investigation
AbstractAbrams, D., Shadel, W. G., Niaura, R. S., Goldstein, M. G., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2000Journal title
Journal of Applied Biobehavioral ResearchVolume
5Issue
2Page(s)
114-120AbstractThe purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the Big Five personality dimensions and smoking variables. Thirty-seven smokers completed a standard, reliable 80-item bipolar measure of the Big Five trait dimensions, as well as measures of nicotine dependence, smoking exposure, and quitting history. Despite finding some significant zero-order relationships between a few of the dimensions and the smoking variables, only one of the partial correlational analyses that controlled for relationships among the personality dimensions in their associations with the nicotine dependence and smoking history variables was significant. These results indicate the need for further research on personality traits and smoking.Durability, dissemination, and institutionalization of worksite tobacco control programs : Results from the working well trial
AbstractAbrams, D., Sorensen, G., Thompson, B., Basen-Engquist, K., Abrams, D. S., Kuniyuki, A., DiClemente, C., & Biener, L. (n.d.).Publication year
1998Journal title
International Journal of Behavioral MedicineVolume
5Issue
4Page(s)
335-351AbstractDurability, dissemination and institutionalization of tobacco control activities are reported, based on the Working Well worksite cancer control intervention study (n = 83 worksites). Tobacco control activities increased significantly in intervention worksites as a result of research-supported activities but were not sustained 2 years after the conclusion of the intervention. Intervention sites were more likely than control sites to initiate and maintain structures for institutionalizing programs, such as assigning a committee responsibility for health-promotion programs or providing a budget for health-promoting activities. Dissemination of the program to control worksites had little impact on the level of smoking control activities in control worksites. Although program durability was not a primary aim of this intervention study, these analyses provide an important assessment of program maintenance beyond a funded intervention and underscore the need for additional research to identify effective organizational strategies for institutionalization of worksite health-promotion programs.E-cigarette awareness, use, and harm perceptions in US adults
AbstractAbrams, D., Pearson, J. L., Richardson, A., Niaura, R. S., Vallone, D. M., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2012Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
102Issue
9Page(s)
1758-1766AbstractObjectives. We estimated e-cigarette (electronic nicotine delivery system) awareness, use, and harm perceptions among US adults. Methods. We drew data from 2 surveys conducted in 2010: a national online study (n = 2649) and the Legacy Longitudinal Smoker Cohort (n = 3658). We used multivariable models to examine e-cigarette awareness, use, and harm perceptions. Results. In the online survey, 40.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 37.3, 43.1) had heard of e-cigarettes, with awareness highest among current smokers. Utilization was higher among current smokers (11.4%; 95% CI = 9.3, 14.0) than in the total population (3.4%; 95% CI = 2.6, 4.2), with 2.0% (95% CI = 1.0, 3.8) of former smokers and 0.8% (95% CI = 0.35, 1.7) of never-smokers ever using e-cigarettes. In both surveys, non-Hispanic Whites, current smokers, young adults, and those with at least a high-school diploma were most likely to perceive e-cigarettes as less harmful than regular cigarettes. Conclusions. Awareness of e-cigarettes is high, and use among current and former smokers is evident. We recommend product regulation and careful surveillance to monitor public health impact and emerging utilization patterns, and to ascertain why, how, and under what conditions e-cigarettes are being used.E-cigarette or drug-delivery device? Regulating novel nicotine products
AbstractAbrams, D., Cobb, N. K., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Journal title
New England Journal of MedicineVolume
365Issue
3Page(s)
193-195Abstract~E-cigarettes and Cessation : Asking Different Questions Requires Different Methods
AbstractAbrams, D., Glasser, A., Giovenco, D. P., Levy, D. T., Vojjala, M., Cantrell, J., Abrams, D. S., & Niaura, R. S. (n.d.).Publication year
2021Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
23Issue
5Page(s)
878-879Abstract~Early Subjective Sensory Experiences with “Cigalike” E-cigarettes Among African American Menthol Smokers : A qualitative study
AbstractAbrams, D., Smiley, S. L., DeAtley, T., Rubin, L. F., Harvey, E., Kierstead, E. C., Hooper, M. W., Niaura, R. S., Abrams, D. B., & Pearson, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2018Journal title
Nicotine and Tobacco ResearchVolume
20Issue
9Page(s)
1069-1075AbstractIntroduction: Despite smoker interest in e-cigarettes as a harm reduction or cessation aid, many smokers prematurely discontinue vaping after trying a product. This study explored the role of early subjective sensory experiences in vaping persistence and desistance. Methods: African American menthol cigarette smokers aged ≥18 years (N = 15; M = 54.1 years; SD = 8.2), motivated to quit smoking, and interested in trying e-cigarettes were recruited in Washington, DC. Participants were followed for 3 weeks and provided menthol cigalike e-cigarettes after Week 1. Participants completed three interviews about their vaping experiences. Thematic analysis of responses was designed to understand the sensory aspects of vaping. Results: During the first 2 weeks of vaping, four participants reported a positive vaping experience while 11 reported decreased satisfaction. Salient sensory attributes of dissatisfaction included poor taste, insufficient throat hit, difficulty pulling, and a lack of “whole body” satisfaction compared to their preferred cigarette brand. Conclusions: The sensory experiences with a specific cigalike e-cigarette were related to vaping persistence and desistence. Although this was a small volunteer sample of African American menthol smokers motivated to quit smoking, 27% (N = 4) of participants with a positive vaping experience continued using the product, while 73% (N = 11) of participants' vaping experience was unsatisfactory across several experiential categories. In future research of e-cigarettes' efficacy as a smoking cessation or reduction aid, both device characteristics and smokers' expectations for these devices should be considered, so vapers do not expect the same taste sensations, throat sensations, and “whole body” satisfaction as they experienced with their menthol cigarettes. Implications: The subjective sensory experiences associated with initial e-cigarette product use are associated with use patterns. Subjective sensory experiences may also help understand the differences in the appeal, satisfaction, and harm-reduction potential of the rapidly evolving diverse types of products emerging in the marketplace. How products meet the sensory needs of smokers wanting to switch or quit smoking may influence adherence and success rates.Educational attainment and cigarette smoking : A causal association?
AbstractAbrams, D., Gilman, S. E., Martin, L. T., Abrams, D. B., Kawachi, I., Kubzansky, L., Loucks, E. B., Rende, R., Rudd, R., & Buka, S. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2008Journal title
International Journal of EpidemiologyVolume
37Issue
3Page(s)
615-624AbstractBackground: Despite abundant evidence that lower education is associated with a higher risk of smoking, whether the association is causal has not been convincingly established. Methods We investigated the association between education and lifetime smoking patterns in a birth cohort established in 1959 and followed through adulthood (n = 1311). We controlled for a wide range of potential confounders that were measured prior to school entry, and also estimated sibling fixed effects models to control for unmeasured familial vulnerability to smoking. Results: In the full sample of participants, regression analyses adjusting for multiple childhood factors (including socioeconomic status, IQ, behavioural problems, and medical conditions) indicated that the number of pack-years smoked was higher among individuals with less than high school education [rate ratio (RR) = 1.58, confidence interval (CI) = 1.31, 1.91]. However, in the sibling fixed effects analysis the RR was 1.23 (CI = 0.80, 1.93). Similarly, adjusted models estimated in the full sample showed that individuals with less than high school education had fewer short-term (RR = 0.40; CI = 0.23, 0.69) and long-term (RR = 0.59; CI = 0.42, 0.83) quit attempts, and were less likely to quit smoking (odds ratio = 0.34; CI = 0.19, 0.62). The effects of education on quitting smoking were attenuated in the sibling fixed effects models that controlled for familial vulnerability to smoking. Conclusions: A substantial portion of the education differential in smoking that has been repeatedly observed is attributable to factors shared by siblings that contribute to shortened educational careers and to lifetime smoking trajectories. Reducing disparities in cigarette smoking, including educational disparities, may therefore require approaches that focus on factors early in life that influence smoking risk over the adult life span.Effect of different cue stimulus delivery channels on craving reactivity : Comparing in vivo and video cues in regular cigarette smokers
AbstractAbrams, D., Shadel, W. G., Niaura, R. S., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2001Journal title
Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental PsychiatryVolume
32Issue
4Page(s)
203-209AbstractExposure to smoking cues reliably produces increases in craving compared to exposure to appropriately matched neutral cues. While different types of stimuli have been used as cue materials in such studies, the channel through which cues are delivered is not often varied in a systematic fashion in smoking research. This study compared the effect of exposure to active in vivo cues compared to two cues, matched for content and time, delivered via videotape on self-reported smoking craving. Results revealed that active in vivo cues produced the highest craving ratings, followed next by active video cues, and last by neutral video cues. These results suggest that craving is sensitive to stimulus delivery channel and that video presentation of smoking cues is a viable manipulation option in cue reactivity studies.Effectiveness of three types of spouse‐involved behavioral alcoholism treatment
AbstractAbrams, D., McCRADY, B. S., STOUT, R., NOEL, N., ABRAMS, D. S., & NELSON, H. F. (n.d.).Publication year
1991Journal title
British Journal of AddictionVolume
86Issue
11Page(s)
1415-1424AbstractTreatment was provided to 45 alcoholics and their spouses in one of three out‐patient behavioral treatment conditions: (1) minimal spouse involvement (MSI) (n = 14), (2) alcohol‐focused spouse involvement (AFSI) (n=12), or (3) alcohol‐focused spouse involvement plus behavioral marital therapy (ABMT) (n = 19). Subjects were followed for 18 months after treatment. Subjects in all conditions reported significant decreases in frequency of drinking and frequency of heavy drinking, and reported increased life satisfaction. This information was corroborated by independent reports of the spouses. Patterns of outcome varied across the three treatment conditions, with ABMT subjects showing gradual improvement in proportions of abstinent days and abstinent plus light drinking days over the last 9 months of follow‐up. Subjects in the other two treatment conditions showed gradual deterioration in proportion of abstinent days and abstinent plus light drinking days. Subjects assigned to the ABMT condition were less likely to experience marital separations, and reported greater improvement in marital satisfaction and subjective well‐being than the other experimental groups. Clinical and theoretical significance of these findings are discussed.Effects of alcohol cues on smoking urges and topography among alcoholic men
AbstractAbrams, D., Rohsenow, D. J., Monti, P. M., Colby, S. M., Gulliver, S. B., Sirota, A. D., Niaura, R. S., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
1997Journal title
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental ResearchVolume
21Issue
1Page(s)
101-107AbstractAlthough the prevalence of smoking among alcoholics ranges up to 97%, little is known about mechanisms underlying the co-occurrence of smoking and alcohol use, or the role tobacco may play in alcohol treatment recovery. Adult male alcoholics in treatment (n = 30) were randomly assigned to visual and olfactory exposure either to alcohol cues or to control cues, and then were allowed to smoke while continuing visual exposure to the same cues. Exposure to alcohol cues resulted in significantly greater self-reported urge to drink and urge to smoke but had no significant effect on the topography of smoking behavior. When variance due to urge to smoke was controlled, greater urge to drink correlated negatively with number of cigarette puffs. The results provide some support for a priming hypothesis of tobacco's role on alcoholism recovery. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed.Effects of alcohol on sexual arousal in male alcoholics
AbstractAbrams, D., Wilson, G. T., Lawson, D. M., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
1978Journal title
Journal of abnormal psychologyVolume
87Issue
6Page(s)
609-616AbstractDuring successive daily sessions, each of 8 29-44 yr old chronic male alcoholics received, in counterbalanced order, doses of beverage alcohol (.08, .4, .8, and 1.2 g/kg) prior to viewing nonerotic and erotic films. Measures of penile tumescence obtained by means of a penile plethysmograph showed a significant negative linear effect of increasing alcohol doses during the heterosexual and homosexual films. Ss' expectations about the effect of alcohol on sexual arousal and behavior were discrepant with these physiological findings. Consistently, Ss reported that alcohol would have no effect on their sexual arousal or would increase it. Results are discussed with reference to other studies, and it is concluded that penile tumescence is a convenient, reliable, and discriminating measure of male sexual arousal. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).Effects of alcohol on social anxiety and physiological arousal : Cognitive versus pharmacological processes
AbstractAbrams, D., Wilson, G. T., & Abrams, D. S. (n.d.).Publication year
1977Journal title
Cognitive Therapy and ResearchVolume
1Issue
3Page(s)
195-210AbstractThirty-two male social drinkers were randomly assigned to one of two expectancy conditions in which they were led to believe that the beverage they consumed contained either vodka and tonic or tonic only. For half of the subjects in each expectancy condition, the beverage actually contained vodka; the others drank only tonic. After their drinks, subjects' heart rates were monitored during a brief social interaction with a female confederate. Self-report and questionnaire measures of social anxiety were taken before and after the interaction. Subjects who believed that they had consumed alcohol showed significantly less increase in heart rate than those who believed that they consumed tonic only, regardless of the actual content of their drinks. There was no effect of alcohol per se. The theoretical implications of these results are briefly discussed.Effects of alcohol on social anxiety in women : Cognitive versus physiological processes
AbstractAbrams, D., Abrams, D. B., & Wilson, G. T. (n.d.).Publication year
1979Journal title
Journal of abnormal psychologyVolume
88Issue
2Page(s)
161-173AbstractRandomly assigned 32 female social drinkers (18-25 yr old undergraduates) to 4 conditions in a 2 × 2 factorial design that controlled for drink content and expectations. Ss were administered either an alcoholic or a nonalcoholic beverage and were led to believe that their drinks contained or did not contain alcohol. After finishing their drinks Ss participated in a study of social anxiety in which they were requested to interact with a male confederate of the experimenter. Multiple measures, including heart rate, skin conductance, and overt behavioral and self-report responses, were recorded. Ss who expected alcohol showed significant elevations in physiological arousal and were rated as more anxious on observational measures of social behavior. Self-report measures failed to yield any differences among groups. Implications for the tension reduction theory of alcohol use and the importance of multiple response measures are discussed. (11/2 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).Effects of alcohol on social anxiety in women : Cognitive versus physiological processes
AbstractAbrams, D., Abrams, D. B., & Wilson, G. T. (n.d.).Publication year
1979Journal title
Journal of abnormal psychologyVolume
88Issue
2Page(s)
161-173AbstractRandomly assigned 32 female social drinkers (18-25 yr old undergraduates) to 4 conditions in a 2 × 2 factorial design that controlled for drink content and expectations. Ss were administered either an alcoholic or a nonalcoholic beverage and were led to believe that their drinks contained or did not contain alcohol. After finishing their drinks Ss participated in a study of social anxiety in which they were requested to interact with a male confederate of the experimenter. Multiple measures, including heart rate, skin conductance, and overt behavioral and self-report responses, were recorded. Ss who expected alcohol showed significant elevations in physiological arousal and were rated as more anxious on observational measures of social behavior. Self-report measures failed to yield any differences among groups. Implications for the tension reduction theory of alcohol use and the importance of multiple response measures are discussed. (11/2 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).Effects of alcohol on the nonverbal communication of anxiety : The impact of beliefs on nonverbal behavior
AbstractAbrams, D., Woolfolk, A. E., Abrams, L. M., Abrams, D. B., & Wilson, G. T. (n.d.).Publication year
1979Journal title
Environmental Psychology and Nonverbal BehaviorVolume
3Issue
4Page(s)
205-218AbstractThree male and three female raters were shown videotapes of 29 male subjects who were speaking to a silent female confederate. Raters were asked to make 10 judgments about the subjects' behavior. The subjects had been assigned to one of two expectancy conditions in which they were led to believe the drink they consumed prior to meeting the confederate contained alcohol and tonic or tonic only. Actually, half of the subjects in each expectancy condition received alcohol and half received tonic only. Judgments of the female raters viewing the videotapes were congruent with physiological measures of the subjects' anxiety. Those subjects who believed they received alcohol were perceived by female raters as more relaxed, less anxious, less inhibited, and more dominant than subjects who believed they received tonic. The actual content of the drink had no significant effects on the raters' judgements of the subjects' behavior. Male raters were unable to discriminate among the experimental conditions. Implications for possible gender of rater effects in behavioral assessment procedures as well as for the impact of beliefs on nonverbal communication are discussed.Effects of behavioral skills training and schedule of nicotine gum administration on smoking cessation
AbstractAbrams, D., Goldstein, M. G., Niaura, R., Follick, M. J., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
1989Journal title
American Journal of PsychiatryVolume
146Issue
1Page(s)
56-60AbstractEighty-nine smokers were randomly assigned to four nicotine gum treatments for smoking cessation: behavioral treatment plus a fixed schedule of nicotine gum, behavioral treatment plus an ad lib schedule, education plus a fixed schedule, and education plus an ad lib schedule. The four treatment conditions produced similar rates of abstinence (40.9% to 58.3%) at the end of 11 weeks of treatment. However, at 6-month follow-up, the subjects who had received behavioral treatment had a significantly better abstinence rate (36.7%) than those receiving education (17.5%). Nicotine gum schedule had no effect on treatment outcome.Effects of intoxication levels and drinking pattern on social anxiety in men
AbstractAbrams, D., Wilson, G. T., Abrams, D. B., & Lipscomb, T. R. (n.d.).Publication year
1980Journal title
Journal of Studies on AlcoholVolume
41Issue
3Page(s)
250-264Abstract~Effects of motivational interviewing on smoking cessation in adolescents with psychiatric disorders
AbstractAbrams, D., Brown, R. A., Ramsey, S. E., Strong, D. R., Myers, M. G., Kahler, C. W., Lejuez, C. W., Niaura, R., Pallonen, U. E., Kazura, A. N., Goldstein, M. G., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2003Journal title
Tobacco controlVolume
12Issue
SUPPL. 4Page(s)
IV3-10AbstractObjective: To test the hypothesis that among adolescent smokers hospitalised for psychiatric and substance use disorders, motivational interviewing (MI) would lead to more and longer quit attempts, reduced smoking, and more abstinence from smoking over a 12 month follow up. Design: Randomised control trial of MI versus brief advice (BA) for smoking cessation, with pre- and post-intervention assessment of self efficacy and intentions to change, and smoking outcome variables assessed at one, three, six, nine, and 12 month follow ups. Setting: A private, university affiliated psychiatric hospital in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. Patients or other participants: Consecutive sample (n = 191) of 13-17 year olds, admitted for psychiatric hospitalisation, who smoked at least one cigarette per week for the past four weeks, had access to a telephone, and did not meet DSM-IV criteria for current psychotic disorder. Interventions: MI versus BA. MI consisted of two, 45 minute individual sessions, while BA consisted of 5-10 minutes of advice and information on how to quit smoking. Eligible participants in both conditions were offered an eight week regimen of transdermal nicotine patch upon hospital discharge. Main outcome measures: Point prevalence abstinence, quit attempts, changes in smoking rate and longest quit attempt. Proximal outcomes included intent to change smoking behaviour (upon hospital discharge), and self efficacy for smoking cessation. Results: MI did not lead to better smoking outcomes compared to BA. MI was more effective than BA for increasing self efficacy regarding ability to quit smoking. A significant interaction of treatment with baseline intention to quit smoking was also found. MI was more effective than BA for adolescents with little or no intention to change their smoking, but was actually less effective for adolescents with pre-existing intention to cut down or quit smoking. However, the effects on these variables were relatively modest and only moderately related to outcome. Adolescents with comorbid substance use disorders smoked more during follow up while those with anxiety disorders smoked less and were more likely to be abstinent. Conclusions: The positive effect of MI on self efficacy for quitting and the increase in intention to change in those with initially low levels of intentions suggest the benefits of such an intervention. However, the effects on these variables were relatively modest and only moderately related to outcome. The lack of overall effect of MI on smoking cessation outcomes suggests the need to further enhance and intensify this type of treatment approach for adolescent smokers with psychiatric comorbidity.Effects of tobacco deprivation on alcohol cue reactivity and drinking among young adults
AbstractAbrams, D., Colby, S. M., Rohsenow, D. J., Monti, P. M., Gwaltney, C. J., Gulliver, S. B., Abrams, D. B., Niaura, R. S., & Sirota, A. D. (n.d.).Publication year
2004Journal title
Addictive BehaviorsVolume
29Issue
5Page(s)
879-892AbstractNicotine and alcohol may have common neurobiological mechanisms of reinforcement. Therefore, withholding one substance might result in compensatory increases in self-administration of the other. This laboratory study investigated the effects of brief tobacco deprivation on alcohol cue-elicited urges to drink, corresponding psychophysiological reactions, and alcohol consumption. Young adults (N=78) who were moderate to heavy smokers and drinkers were stratified and randomized to a 2×2 design. Participants were either deprived of tobacco for 5 h or not deprived and then exposed to in vivo alcohol or control beverage cues. Subsequently, participants engaged in a taste-rating task as an unobtrusive measure of alcohol consumption. Tobacco deprivation resulted in increased urge to smoke and decreased cardiovascular responses but did not increase alcohol urges or alcohol consumption. Results indicate that brief tobacco deprivation does not result in compensatory increases in alcohol consumption among young moderate to heavy drinkers.Effects of Tolerance on the Anxiety-Reducing Function of Alcohol
AbstractAbrams, D., Lipscomb, T. R., Nathan, P. E., Wilson, G. T., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
1980Journal title
Archives of General PsychiatryVolume
37Issue
5Page(s)
577-582AbstractThirty-two male social drinkers were arranged into two tolerance groups, based on changes in standing stability after ingestion of alcohol. Subjects consumed either a large (1.0 g/kg) or small (0.5 g/kg) dose of alcohol. On finishing their drinks, subjects were requested to interact with a female confederate whose continued silence induced anxiety. Heart rate, skin conductance, overt behavior, and self-report measures were taken. Heart rate increased more at the small than the large dose, consistent with the tension-reduction hypothesis. Further, heart rate of high-tolerance subjects increased significantly more than that of low-tolerance subjects, which suggests that alcohol was less effective at tension reduction for the high-tolerance group. Finally, measures of both skin conductance and heart rate showed significant dose-by-tolerance interactions. High-tolerance subjects were more aroused than were low-tolerance subjects at the small but not at the large dose, suggesting that high-tolerance subjects must consume more alcohol to achieve the same autonomic effect experienced by the low-tolerance subjects.Electronic cigarette use among US adults in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, 2013–2014
AbstractAbrams, D., Coleman, B. N., Rostron, B., Johnson, S. E., Ambrose, B. K., Pearson, J., Stanton, C. A., Wang, B., Delnevo, C., Bansal-Travers, M., Kimmel, H. L., Goniewicz, M. L., Niaura, R. S., Abrams, D. S., Conway, K. P., Borek, N., Compton, W. M., & Hyland, A. (n.d.).Publication year
2017Journal title
Tobacco controlVolume
26Issue
e2Abstractbackground Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use in the USA is increasing. As such, it is critical to understand who uses e-cigarettes, how e-cigarettes are used and what types of products are prevalent. This study assesses patterns of current e-cigarette use among daily and non-daily adult users in the 2013–2014 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study. Methods We examined the proportion of current adult e-cigarette users (n=3642) reporting infrequent use (use on ‘some days’ and use on 0–2 of the past 30 days), moderate use (use on ‘some days’ and use on >2 of the past 30 days) and daily use. We examined demographic characteristics, use of other tobacco products and e-cigarette product characteristics overall and by use category. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) were calculated using Poisson regression to assess correlates of daily e-cigarette use. results Among the 5.5% of adult current e-cigarette users in the PATH Study, 42.2% reported infrequent use, 36.5% reported moderate use and 21.3% reported daily use. Cigarette smokers who quit in the past year were more likely to report daily e-cigarette use, compared with current smokers (aPR=3.21, 95% CI=2.75 to 3.76). Those who reported using rechargeable or refillable devices were more likely to report daily use compared with those who did not use these devices (aPR=1.95, 95% CI=1.44 to 2.65 and aPR=2.10, 95% CI=1.75 to 2.52, respectively). conclusions The majority of e-cigarette users in this study reported less than daily use. Compared with non-daily use, daily use was associated with being a former smoker; however, cross-sectional data limits our ability to establish the temporality or directionality of such associations.Engagement promotes abstinence in a web-based cessation intervention : Cohort study
AbstractAbrams, D., Richardson, A., Graham, A. L., Cobb, N., Xiao, H., Mushro, A., Abrams, D. S., & Vallone, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2013Journal title
Journal of medical Internet researchVolume
15Issue
1AbstractBackground: Web-based smoking cessation interventions can have a public health impact because they are both effective in promoting cessation and can reach large numbers of smokers in a cost-efficient manner. Their potential impact, however, has not been realized. It is still unclear how such interventions promote cessation, who benefits most, and how to improve their population impact. Objective: To examine the effectiveness of a highly promoted Web-based smoking cessation intervention to promote quit behavior over time, identify the most effective features, and understand who is most likely to use those features by using unweighted and weighted analyses to estimate the impact in the broader pool of registered site users. Methods: A sample of 1033 new adult registrants was recruited from a Web-based smoking cessation intervention by using an automated study management system. Abstinence was assessed by self-report through a mixed-mode follow-up (online survey with telephone follow-up for nonrespondents) at 1, 3, and 6 months. Software tracked respondents' online activity. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to examine predictors of website utilization and how utilization promoted abstinence using unweighted and weighted data. Results: The 7-day point prevalence abstinence rates at 6 months ranged from 20.68% to 11.13% in the responder and intent-to-treat samples, respectively. Predictors of abstinence in unweighted analyses included number of visits to the website as well as accessing specific interactive or engaging features. In weighted analyses, only number of visits was predictive of abstinence. Motivation to quit was a key predictor of website utilization, whereas negative partner support decreased the likelihood of increasing visits or accessing engaging features. Conclusions: Engagement is critical to promoting smoking cessation. The next generation of Web-based smoking cessation interventions needs to maximize the initial engagement of all new visitors and work to retain those smokers who proceed to register on the site.Erratum : Exploring scenarios to dramatically reduce smoking prevalence: a simulation model of the three-part cessation process (American Journal of Public Health (2010) 100:7 (1253-1259) DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.166785)
AbstractAbrams, D., Levy, D. T., Mabry, P. L., Graham, A. L., Orleans, C. T., & Abrams, D. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2014Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
104Issue
2Page(s)
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