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Light and intermittent cigarette smokers: a review (1989–2009)

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Abstract

Rationale

Growing proportions of smokers in the USA do not smoke everyday and can be referred to as light and intermittent smokers (LITS). Despite a current prevalence of LITS in the USA estimated at 25–33% of all smokers, a systematic review of the literature on this group of smokers has yet to be written.

Objectives

The aim of this paper is to review and evaluate research on LITS and to identify, describe and discuss commonalities and differences between LITS and daily smokers.

Methods

The primary databases used to search for publications were Pub Med (National Library of Medicine) and SCOPUS (Elsevier).

Results

LITS inhale smoke and have post-smoking blood nicotine concentrations that are broadly equivalent to those found in daily smokers. However, LITS differ from daily smokers with regard to cigarette consumption and frequency of cigarette use, sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, motives, personality traits, dependence, withdrawal and craving, response to smoking-related cues, quitting perception, past-smoking status, and initiation.

Conclusions

In contrast to daily smokers, LITS show few or no signs of dependence as currently defined by DSM-IV criteria, appear to exercise more self-control, seem to be less impulsive, and their smoking experience is primarily associated with positive rather than negative reinforcement. Conclusions drawn from the reviewed literature highlight the multivariate factors that must be taken into account when defining LITS and emphasize the importance of further research on this increasing fraction of smokers. The potential implications of increased LITS prevalence on smoking-related disease risks remain to be thoroughly investigated.

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Notes

  1. Binge drinking is defined here according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) National Advisory Council (February 5, 2004): a “binge” is a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration to 0.08 g% or above. For the typical adult, this pattern corresponds to consuming five or more drinks (male) or four or more drinks (female) in about 2 h.

Abbreviations

BAC:

blood alcohol curve

BAES:

Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale

CHIS:

California Health Interview Survey

CDC:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

CDS:

Cigarette Dependence Scale

cpd:

cigarettes per day

cpm:

cigarettes per month

cpw:

cigarettes per week

CO:

carbon monoxide

CTS:

California Tobacco Survey

DSM:

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

EMA:

Ecological Momentary Assessment

FMD:

flow-mediated vasodilatation

FTND:

Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence

FTQ:

Fagerström Tolerance Questionnaire

HONC:

Hooked on Nicotine Checklist

LITS:

light and intermittent smokers

NDSS:

nicotine dependence syndrome scale

NDSS-T:

nicotine dependence syndrome scale-total

NESARC:

National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions

NHIS:

National Health Interview Survey

NIAAA:

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

QSU:

Questionnaire on Smoking Urges

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge Dr. George J. Patskan and Prof. Dr. Gerd Kobal from Altria Client Services for reviewing previous versions of this manuscript. The authors also acknowledge the comments and suggestions of Drs Michael J. Oldham and Raymond W. Lau from Altria Client Services as well as the editorial assistance of Eileen Y. Ivasauskas of Accuwrit Inc.

Declaration of Interests

Dr. E. Lenn Murrelle and Dr. Christian Heidbreder were employees at Altria Client Services at the time of manuscript preparation and submission.

Dr. Chris R.E. Coggins and Dr. Richard A. Carchman are consultants for Altria Client Services.

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  1. E. Lenn Murrelle

    Present address: Venebio Group LLC, Virginia Bio-Technology Research Park, 800 East Leigh Street, Richmond, VA, 23219, USA

  2. Christian Heidbreder

    Present address: Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals, 10710 Midlothian Turnpike Suite 430, Richmond, VA, 23335, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Carson Watts Consulting, King, NC, 27021, USA

    Chris R. E. Coggins

  2. Research, Development & Engineering, Altria Client Services, 601 E. Jackson Street, Richmond, VA, 23219, USA

    E. Lenn Murrelle & Christian Heidbreder

  3. Virginia Bio-Technology Research Park, StatSolvers LLC, 800 East Leigh Street, Richmond, VA, 23219, USA

    Richard A. Carchman

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  1. Chris R. E. Coggins
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  2. E. Lenn Murrelle
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  3. Richard A. Carchman
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  4. Christian Heidbreder
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Correspondence to Christian Heidbreder.

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Coggins, C.R.E., Murrelle, E.L., Carchman, R.A. et al. Light and intermittent cigarette smokers: a review (1989–2009). Psychopharmacology 207, 343–363 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-009-1675-4

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