Genetic And Environmental Determinants Of Tobacco And Alcohol Use Trajectories Into Adulthood:a Prospective Twin Study.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$172,875.00
Summary
Problems associated with the long-term use of tobacco and the abuse of alcohol permeate society. The development of effective programs for both the prevention and cessation of tobacco use and alcohol abuse requires an understanding of the natural history of the use of these substances. Most studies of the natural history of tobacco and alcohol use have followed individuals through secondary school and into the early 20s. These studies tell us about the psychosocial influences on these behaviours ....Problems associated with the long-term use of tobacco and the abuse of alcohol permeate society. The development of effective programs for both the prevention and cessation of tobacco use and alcohol abuse requires an understanding of the natural history of the use of these substances. Most studies of the natural history of tobacco and alcohol use have followed individuals through secondary school and into the early 20s. These studies tell us about the psychosocial influences on these behaviours but not about the role of genes on initiation and escalation of substance use. Yet recent advances in the neurophysiology of nicotine and alcohol receptivity and molecular genetics research suggest that genes play at least some role in determining the use of alcohol and tobacco. This proposal is for funding to continue a study designed to investigate the natural histories of alcohol and tobacco use among a sample of 1400 young Australian twins from adolescence to adulthood (early 30s). The study involves a telephone survey of these twins about their smoking and drinking behaviours, and among other things, their attitudes about smoking and drinking, the use of tobacco and alcohol by family and friends and presence of smoking bans at home and work. Because this study explicitly examines the influence of social and psychological factors on tobacco and alcohol use we will be able to determine the relative contribution of genes and psychosocial factors in tobacco and alcohol use. The proposed study is unique in its use of twins, its longitudinal design and its integration of genetics into psychosocial models of behaviour. The results of this study will help to clarify the role of genes in the development of tobacco use and alcohol abuse. Importantly the results of this study will help to identify those social and psychological factors that increase the likelihood of a genetically susceptible individual becoming dependent on nicotine and-or abusing alcohol.Read moreRead less
Unintended Adverse Effects Of Advertising For Nicotine Replacement Therapies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$133,250.00
Summary
Advertising for certain pharmaceutical products (nicotine replacement therapy( NRT)) to help people quit smoking has been permitted in Australia since 1997. Zyban, an antidepressant drug, has been found to be helpful in quitting smoking, but advertising has not yet been permitted in Australia although it is allowed overseas. Because such advertising will reach more than the primary target group of heavy smokers ready to quit, it is important to consider the responses of other smokers who are not ....Advertising for certain pharmaceutical products (nicotine replacement therapy( NRT)) to help people quit smoking has been permitted in Australia since 1997. Zyban, an antidepressant drug, has been found to be helpful in quitting smoking, but advertising has not yet been permitted in Australia although it is allowed overseas. Because such advertising will reach more than the primary target group of heavy smokers ready to quit, it is important to consider the responses of other smokers who are not ready to quit and those at risk of taking up smoking. There is concern that there may be 'boomerang' effects, albeit unintended, on these population groups, because they may feel reassured that there is an effective method to quit and so be in no rush to quit soon, they may try to quit using these products before they are really ready, and in the case of teenagers, they may think that these products make it easy to quit, so there is less problem with starting to smoke. In order to assess if this is so, we will randomly allocate smokers not yet ready to quit and teenagers to either (a) a group where they view 3 ads promoting non-drug methods of quitting, such as the Quitline, (b) a group where they view 3 ads promoting the NRT gum or patch, or (c) a group where they view 3 ads promoting Zyban as a method for quitting. The study will use questionnaires to assess whether, compared with those viewing the non-drug anti-smoking ads, those viewing the NRT or Zyban ads think smoking is less addictive and have less intention to quit, or in the case of teenagers, have more intention to take up smoking. This project will be the first formal study to assess whether there may be adverse effects of NRT and Zyban advertising on smokers not yet ready to quit and teenagers who are not already regular smokers. For this reason, the study will help an assessment of the risks of such advertising compared with the established benefits for smokers who are ready to quit.Read moreRead less
Intervention For Tobacco Dependence Among People With A Psychotic Illness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$387,625.00
Summary
The prevalence of smoking among people with a psychiatric illness, especially schizophrenia, is greater than that in the general population. Exposure to tobacco smoke has been identified as a cause of 32 different diseases as well as a cause of fire injuries. Tobacco smoke is known to contain carcinogens, as well as nicotine and numerous other poisonous substances. An extensive body of scientific evidence shows that active cigarette smoking increases the risk of many different cancers. Smoking r ....The prevalence of smoking among people with a psychiatric illness, especially schizophrenia, is greater than that in the general population. Exposure to tobacco smoke has been identified as a cause of 32 different diseases as well as a cause of fire injuries. Tobacco smoke is known to contain carcinogens, as well as nicotine and numerous other poisonous substances. An extensive body of scientific evidence shows that active cigarette smoking increases the risk of many different cancers. Smoking related diseases rate second in frequency to suicide as the greatest contributor to early mortality in schizophrenia. Popular opinion holds that people with mental illness are lacking in motivation to change their behaviour due to the effects of their mental illness. However, a recent survey of inpatients in a psychiatric hospital in Newcastle, NSW, revealed that over a quarter of smokers were either preparing to quit or cut down on their smoking or already had taken action to reduce their smoking. The present research proposal represents the first large randomised controlled trial of an intervention for tobacco dependence among people with a mental illness. This project will compare the effectiveness of nicotine replacement therapy combined with counselling with a self-help booklet on smoking. The proposed research follows a small clinical study of the feasibility of the intervention and a small randomised controlled trial supported by the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund. The proposed study brings together the expertise of several people across Australia who have experience in treating people with mental illness and drug dependence, including tobacco dependence. The results will inform future clinical interventions for smokers with a mental illness.Read moreRead less
The Centre Of Research Excellence On Achieving The Tobacco Endgame (CREATE)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,500,000.00
Summary
The Centre of Research Excellence on Achieving the Tobacco Endgame (CREATE) will develop a strategy to make Australia smoke-free. Our multi-disciplinary research will determine which strategies are the most effective, equitable and acceptable to the public and policymakers. We will identify the barriers and enablers, and make recommendations on the optimal suite of policies to end the cigarette epidemic and reduce the healthcare burden associated with smoking related diseases.
Efficacy Of Education And Advice Delivered By Text Message To Aid Smoking Cessation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$538,395.00
Summary
A high proportion of smokers indicate a desire to stop smoking and report having made attempts to quit. However, most attempts are not successful and new methods are needed to support motivated smokers and improve success rates. This project evaluates the use of text messages to deliver advice and support to smokers motivated to stop smoking. We aim to understand if and how this promosing new intervention helps smokers to quit.
The Natural History Of Unassisted Smoking Cessation In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$329,595.00
Summary
The majority of ex-smokers who successfully quit have done so without using pharmaceutical or counselling support. This study will produce pioneering insights into how and why so many smokers successfully quit without formal assistance. The findings will be conveyed to government, not-for-profit groups, and tobacco cessation professionals in order to help foster favourable social climates for smoking cessation and construct empowering messages about smoking cessation via self-change strategies.
Aboriginal Child And Adolescent Health Improvement Through Aboriginal Leadership And Collaborative Research Teams
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,499,589.00
Summary
Continued progress to improve the health of Aboriginal children and adolescents will help drive continued improvements in the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The proposed CRE will harness the potential of several leading research projects in these areas and provide additional training for Aboriginal researchers at varying levels of career development. A comprehensive program to translate these programs to policy changes is core the the CRE.
Smoking Cessation For Youth Project Booster And Cohort Tracking Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$135,550.00
Summary
Adolescence is a critical period for the establishment of adult drug use behaviours. If smoking does not commence in teenage years it is unlikely to occur. This innovative project not only continues to address tobacco control with this important age group but also builds on evidence from a randomised intervention trial involving over 4,000 Year 9 students tracked over two years. This project was called the Smoking Cessation for Youth Project (SCYP). Preliminary longitudinal analyses of the SCYP ....Adolescence is a critical period for the establishment of adult drug use behaviours. If smoking does not commence in teenage years it is unlikely to occur. This innovative project not only continues to address tobacco control with this important age group but also builds on evidence from a randomised intervention trial involving over 4,000 Year 9 students tracked over two years. This project was called the Smoking Cessation for Youth Project (SCYP). Preliminary longitudinal analyses of the SCYP data indicate that the intervention students were significantly less likely to smoke heavily (smoking five or more days per week) than the control group and that intervention students were also significantly less likely to have tried smoking than the control group. These results represent a world first in evidence that population-based smoking cessation interventions among teenagers can be successful. The proposed project will determine the extent to which these positive intervention effects are sustainable, two years post intervention, as our cohort moves into Year 12. In addition to tracking the possible decay of SCYP intervention effects, the proposed project will also measure the effects of a booster intervention delivered students when they are in Year 12 (2002). The Year 12 intervention will comprise an innovative self-help 'magazine style' booster and a supportive environmental intervention involving school nurses and local GPs. This proposal represents a cost-effective opportunity to measure the effectiveness of a Year 12 tobacco cessation booster intervention. Further data on tobacco smoking behaviour in 2002 will also enable us to determine how long the SCYP intervention appears to affect behaviour and whether 'boosters' are needed in later secondary school years to maintain the benefits.Read moreRead less
An Open-label Randomised Pragmatic Policy Trial Of Nicotine Products For Short-term Cessation Assistance Or Long-term Substitution In Smokers.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,053,910.00
Summary
Many smokers who try to quit fail in their attempt. Medicinal nicotine is currently only used as a short-term quit aid. This trial will test if offering smokers the option of using these products as long-term substitutes for cigarettes will help more smokers to successfully quit. We will also determine if offering smokers low toxicity smokeless tobacco and electronic nicotine devices in addition to medicinal nicotine products further increases the number of smokers who quit successfully.