Correrlation does not equal causation

[Vocalek]

I suppose it never occurred to them that they have it exactly backwards.



Life 1 Year After a Quit Attempt: Real-Time Re... [Ann Behav Med. 2012] - PubMed - NCBI

Ann Behav Med. 2012 Aug 4. [Epub ahead of print]

[h=1]Life 1 Year After a Quit Attempt: Real-Time Reports of Quitters and Continuing Smokers.[/h]Schlam TR, Piper ME, Cook JW, Fiore MC, Baker TB.
[h=3]Source[/h]Center for tobacco Research and Intervention and Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 1930 Monroe St., Suite 200, Madison, WI, 53711, USA, trschlam@ctri.medicine.wisc.edu.

[h=3]Abstract[/h][h=4]BACKGROUND:[/h]Smokers are often reluctant to quit because they fear long-lasting withdrawal. Yet little research prospectively examines smokers' withdrawal longer than 1 month post-quit.
[h=4]PURPOSE:[/h]The aim of this study was to compare successful versus unsuccessful quitters' withdrawal, positive affect/pleasure, and lifestyle at 1 year post-quit.
[h=4]METHODS:[/h]Smokers (N = 572) in a cessation trial completed ecological momentary assessments four times a day for 1 week pre-quit, 1 week post-quit, and 1 week at 1 year post-quit.
[h=4]RESULTS:[/h]From pre-quit to 1 year later, only quitters reported sizeable declines in craving and restlessness, and fewer stressful events. At 1 year, quitters, on average, reported no significant craving. Continuing smokers reduced their cigarette consumption considerably from pre-quit to 1 year later.
[h=4]CONCLUSIONS:[/h]Contrary to smokers' worries, long-term quitters reported less craving and restlessness than when they smoked (perhaps because cessation eliminates the acute nicotine withdrawal smokers experience between cigarettes). This information may encourage smokers to quit and endure withdrawal.

(My "acute nicotine withdrawal" had not stopped after 6 months. That was enough for me.)

 

[DC2]

That is the stupidest conclusion they could possibly have come up with.

 

[Rickajho]

Can you say "obtuse logic"? (Do they actually pay someone money to make this stuff up?)

 

[Stubby]

Can you say "obtuse logic"? (Do they actually pay someone money to make this stuff up?)

There is lots of money for these types of useless studies. There are certain confines scientist are restricted to though

They must support an abstinence only approach to tobacco

They must support BP products (they are having a tough time with that one as of late)

They must never ever ever tell the truth about the relative harm of different types of tobacco/nicotine products.

They have to be so completely useless as to never ever ever upset the current statues of money flowing into tobacco control groups, governments, etc.

They must never ever ever treat tobacco/nicotine users as normal humans, but must support the idea that tobacco/nicotine users are depraved humans who must be cured of their evil addiction...... at all cost....... even there lives.

Other then that researchers are free to do as they please. There is plenty of cash so no worries in that regard.

 

[NorthOfAtlanta]

Can you say "obtuse logic"? (Do they actually pay someone money to make this stuff up?)

You have to remember that good fiction writers are expensive.

 

[18SixFifty]

I have smoked for a very long time. I tried to quit many times and yes even after 6 months I still had cravings. I still crave cigs. But when I do I can now hit my e-cig. Even with all the advances and three years smoke free I still have cravings. I know for a fact that without e-cigs I would be going to the store and buying a pack of cigs. It's just me and I am willing to own the fact that I'm addicted.

Last night I went to a friends house to watch the Michigan state game. There was 9 of us all together. I was the only one not smoking but I did still want to ask for a cig. Everyone tried my e-cig including one couple that had tried e-cigs and didn't make it work. They liked the new setup and will likely try again soon.

Well anyway I don't think it's fear of "withdrawal" it's simply fear of failure and dag nabbit they want a smoke.

 

[Petrodus]

I suppose it never occurred to them that they have it exactly backwards.

 

[rolygate]

I don't think there has ever been a clinical study of nicotine addiction / dependence. It has little or nothing to do with smoking since cigarette smoke contains a cocktail of active ingredients and synergistic effects, and a multitude of confounders.

In fact it would probably be either impossible or very difficult to carry out a trial of nicotine dependence and the effects of withdrawal since you would first need to find a group of subjects dependent on nicotine alone, or create nicotine-dependent subjects by supplying pure nicotine alone without any other materials to naive users, which would not pass the ethics test in Western trial approvals.

The only people who would qualify are those who have either never smoked or could be persuaded to start taking nicotine again (neither of which would pass ethics); or possibly those who have not smoked for a year or more but who take nicotine. In practice that means long-term NRT or ecig users who could be persuaded to withdraw from nicotine for the purposes of the trial.

Confusing smoking dependence and nicotine dependence is something only a layman or someone in the field but with a single-figure IQ (or perhaps with some form of ulterior motive) would do. However it probably plays well in the media.

 

[TennDave]

I quit for 3 years once but still had the cravings. Once I took the plunge again, I was back up to my 2 packs a day within a week. After that, it was literally impossible for me to quit until I started vaping- I still had withdrawals, but it was more tolerable with a good amount of nicotine intake (36mg)...since then my body has told me that I do not need as much nicotine- I'm down to 18mg now. Anything lower and I waste money vaping more.