Cigarette Relighting: A Series of Pilot Studies Investigating a Common Yet Understudied Smoking Behavior

Carolyn J. Heckman, Olivia A. Wackowski, Rohit Mukherjee, Dorothy K. Hatsukami, Irina Stepanov, Cristine D. Delnevo and Michael B. Steinberg
Additional contact information
Carolyn J. Heckman: Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Olivia A. Wackowski: Center for Tobacco Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Rohit Mukherjee: Center for Tobacco Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Dorothy K. Hatsukami: Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
Irina Stepanov: Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
Cristine D. Delnevo: Center for Tobacco Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
Michael B. Steinberg: Center for Tobacco Studies, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-8

Abstract: Background: The act of extinguishing, saving, and later relighting unfinished cigarettes is a common yet understudied behavior that may have implications for tobacco treatment and health. Methods: This paper presents four pilot studies investigating various aspects of this topic: (1) the prevalence of relighting among NJ and NY Quitline callers ( n = 20,984); (2) the prevalence and correlates of relighting in two national surveys ( n = 1008, n = 1018); (3) a within-subject ( n = 16) laboratory experiment comparing cigarettes smoked per day and exhaled carbon monoxide when relighting and not relighting cigarettes; and (4) a national survey of tobacco treatment providers’ ( n = 150) perceptions of relighting. Results: Relighting was found to be common (approximately 45% of smokers), and associated with lower socioeconomic status, heavier smoking and nicotine dependence, greater smoking-related concerns, as well as high levels of exhaled carbon monoxide. Providers noted the potential importance of relighting but reported that they do not regularly incorporate it into their assessment or tobacco treatment planning. Conclusions: These findings address a major research gap in the emerging research on this common behavior. Future research is needed to better understand the potential implications of relighting for policies and clinical practices related to tobacco cessation and health.

Keywords: cigarettes; relighting; smoking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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