SRNT Web Committee presents the newly updated SRNT website!
This website has been redesigned based on input from the SRNT membership. New information will be added to the site on an on-going basis, with new articles and items of interest every month. The members' only section has been greatly expanded. Once you log in, you'll find a more comprehensive member directory, and sections devoted to helping members collaborate, find funding opportunities, and peruse the latest research on nicotine and tobacco. We hope you'll enjoy using the new website. It is a work in progress, so please send your comments and suggestions to: srntweb@srnt.org.
Redefining SRNT's Topic-Driven Committees: Creating Networks
In order to better meet the needs of SRNT members and reflect the difference between SRNT's 'working' and 'topic-driven' committees, SRNT is changing five of its committees to Networks. Those new Networks are: Basic Science; Global; Health Disparities; Public Policy; and Treatment. Participation in SRNT Networks will be open to all SRNT members. Each Network will be lead by an Advisory Committee, which will also provide feedback to the Board of Directors on SRNT programs, services, and opportunities. For more information, click on the "About" button in the menu bar, then on the "Networks and Committees" button in the menu on the left side of the screen.
Cone snail toxin takes the punch out of nicotine
What do a tobacco plant and a cone snail have in common? For one, they both generate toxins that bind to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In the case of the tobacco plant, it produces nicotine to protect itself from ingestion by insects, animals and humans, but as the old adage suggests, one man's poison is another man's pleasure. Cone snails produce a toxin called MII (pronounced M2) that has been found to reduce motivation to use nicotine. Brunzell and colleagues (2010) found that local infusion of MII into the brain of rats prevented nicotine self-administration. These are the first studies to demonstrate that blockade of this subset of MII-sensitive receptors reduces behavior relevant to nicotine use and may suggest potential targets for tobacco cessation therapy. More....
Tobacco Industry Manipulation Messages in Anti-Smoking Public Service Announcements
Message content in anti-smoking public service announcements (PSAs) can be delivered explicitly (directly with concrete statements) or implicitly (indirectly via metaphor), and the method of delivery may affect the efficacy of those PSAs. Shadel and colleagues (in press) conducted an initial test of this hypothesis, using tobacco industry manipulation PSAs in adolescents. Tobacco industry manipulation PSAs that delivered their messages explicitly were associated with stronger levels of smoking resistance self-efficacy compared to tobacco industry manipulation PSAs that delivered their messages implicitly. These results suggest that message delivery factors should be taken into account when designing anti-smoking PSAs. More....
Smoking and drinking among college students: "It's a package deal"
The college years appear to be a time of increased risk for smoking initiation. Nichter and colleagues (2010) conducted a qualitative study focused on the social context of college parties where smoking occurs with alcohol use. Most party smokers (defined as students who smoked more than two-thirds of their cigarettes in a party context) believed that smoking while drinking was "not really smoking." Students described smoking and drinking as going together perfectly, "like milk and cookies." A range of utility functions of smoking and drinking were articulated by informants. Importantly, these smokers believed that they were at little risk of transitioning to higher levels of cigarette use. More....
Behavioral Activation Smoking Cessation Treatment for Smokers with Elevated Depressive Symptoms
Individuals who are experiencing symptoms of depression have more trouble quitting smoking than those without such symptoms. Psychological strategies focused on depressed thoughts and feelings, and/or antidepressant medications aimed at improving smoking cessation through reducing depressive symptoms have been studied. MacPherson and colleagues (2010) examined whether Behavioral Activation, a behavioral treatment for depression, combined with a standard smoking cessation treatment would improve smoking cessation outcomes among adult smokers with elevated depressive symptoms. The results of this study indicate that the Behavioral Activation Treatment for Smoking (BATS) shows promise of helping smokers with symptoms of depression to both feel better and to also quit smoking. More....
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