Public support for mandated nicotine reduction in cigarettes

J.L. Pearson, D.B. Abrams, R.S. Niaura, A. Richardson and D.M. Vallone

American Journal of Public Health, 2013, vol. 103, issue 3, 562-567

Abstract: Objectives. We assessed public support for a potential Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-mandated reduction in cigarette nicotine content. Methods. We used nationally representative data from a June 2010 crosssectional survey of US adults (n = 2649) to obtain weighted point estimates and correlates of support for mandated nicotine reduction. We also assessed the potential role of political ideology in support of FDA regulation of nicotine. Results. Nearly 50% of the public supported mandated cigarette nicotine reduction, with another 28% having no strong opinion concerning this potential FDA regulation. Support for nicotine reduction was highest among Hispanics, African Americans, and those with less than a high school education. Among smokers, the odds of supporting FDA nicotine regulation were 2.77 times higher among smokers who intended to quit in the next 6 months than among those with no plans to quit. Conclusions. Mandating nicotine reduction in cigarettes to nonaddictive levels may reduce youth initiation and facilitate adult cessation. The reasons behind nicotine regulation need to be communicated to the public to preempt tobacco industry efforts to impede such a regulation.

Keywords: nicotine, article; cross-sectional study; drug legislation; educational status; female; food and drug administration; human; legal aspect; male; middle aged; psychological aspect; public opinion; race; smoking; statistical model; statistics; tobacco; United States, Continental Population Groups; Cross-Sectional Studies; Educational Status; Female; Humans; Legislation, Drug; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Nicotine; Public Opinion; Smoking; Tobacco Products; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2012.300890_3

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.300890

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