Want to quit smoking? Don't try light cigarettes

Smokers who switch to light cigarettes in an attempt to quit smoking may need to change their strategy, according to a study out of University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine.

Of 31,000 smokers who were tracked, 38% of them switched to a light brand; 43% of those who did so had the goal of ultimately quitting altogether.

One particular irony that was discovered during the research, according to lead researcher Dr. Hilary Trindle, is that those who switched to lighter cigarettes were more likely to attempt to quit smoking than those who stuck with their regular brand.  Yet, conversely, they were less likely to succeed than those who didn’t switch brands, but tried to quit later on.

Specifically, those who switched to light cigarettes were 58% more likely to try quitting in 2002-2003, but were ultimately 60% less likely to succeed.

In the journal Tobacco Control, Dr. Trindle states that part of the problem could be that some smokers perceive that switching to a lighter brand is an acceptable alternative to quitting.  In actuality, light cigarettes make it even harder to quite.

Some research has shown that some so-called “light” cigarettes have just as much tar and nicotine than regular cigarettes.

Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was granted the authority to reign in the cigarette industry  through stricter controls;  a business that, according to the New York Times, ultimately kills ½ of its customers.

By Rachel Stockton