Tobacco Documents Online

Report on the behavioral pharmacology program, the main objectives of which are to understand reinforcing actions of nicotine and nicotine analogues, gain insight into the neurobehavioral actions of nicotine, and develop animal behavior techniques to screen nicotine analogues for their nicotine eliciting properties. Used controlled experiments with self-administration of nicotine by rats to establish reinforcer function of nicotine. Found response of 2-methylnicotine equivalent to that of nicotine (i.e. behaviorally active).

Reports on results of subjective smoking tests for harshness of a controlled-profile cigarette. Uses an "11 point judgement scale." Used Winston cigarettes as a control. Concluded that harshness and taste level increases are subjectively discernible from the first to the last quarter (of the rod) in the Winston but no such evidence in the C.P. cigarette.

Describes how providing smokers delivery information influences the acceptability of low delivery cigarettes. Finds delivery level disclosure influences acceptability primarily in: females in the 35 plus age bracket, "health smokers," and smokers who smoke 30 or more cigarettes per day. States "a real marketing advantage is gained by calling attention to the delivery values of low delivery cigarettes."

Study designed to answer the question: "To what extent is daily smoke intake a function of the cigarette smoked?" and to determine whether such changes occur within smoking of a single cigarette, or as a function of the number of cigarettes smoked. Study design includes smokers switched from higher and lower delivery cigarettes, with values recorded for mean daily smoke intake, number of cigarettes smoked, and mean smoke intake/cigarette/day. Concludes that further research is contingent on findings, with the goal to establish how puffing profiles are altered to affect the reduction or increase in intake.

Analysis of survey of ex smokers to answer question: "Are smokers more likely to quit from one type of cigarette than from another?" Although Marlboro and Winston were most often used as an exit brand, this was not high as their market share would predict. Low-delivery brands such as Kent and Vantage were as or more likely to be an exit brand their market share would predict. Notes that "smokers can be considered nicotine seekers" and that the recent introduction of low-yield (low-nicotine) cigarettes may offer "a nicotine weaning procedure" to prospective quitters. Notes: "If the industry's introduction of acceptable low-nicotine products does make it easier for dedicated smokers to quit, then the wisdom of the introduction is open to debate. Therefore we need to know whether it is easier to quit smoking from low-delivery brands." Results find that the proportion of quitters from low delivery brands is 1.4 times larger than would be suggested from market share; however, low delivery smokers are likely to be self-selecting for greater intention to quit. Although the quit ratio is higher among low delivery cigarettes as a group, "within the low delivery category the size of the quit ratio is independent of the nicotine delivered."

Study concluding that smokers, smoking cigarettes with differing levels of nicotine, alter their behavior in order to receive a constant level of nicotine from each cigarette. Suggests future study on holding nicotine level constant and measuring behavior changes depending on environmental situation (i.e., stress), thereby measuring effect of different environmental situations on changes in desired nicotine levels.

Relates experiences of a panel of human testers test-smoking cigarettes for the purpose of reporting on the cigarettes' subjective taste qualities. Average number of puffs, puff volume, average flow rate, average puff duration were measured. Explains that altough there was a problem in the smoke recorder during the test causing the results not to be accurate, the effects of the problem should be the same for all the subjects. Compared the smokers of these cigarettes to smokers of Marlboro cigarettes. Discusses the phenomenon of "back off" (where subjects increase the length of pauses between puffs).

Lays out the goals and objectives of a research study on human smoking habits. Summarizes past findings that nicotine yield "depends more on the smoker himself than on the cigarette he smokes" and speculates that within a given brand the need for nicotine "is quite different between individuals...leading to a wide spectrum of the actual parameters." Claims that smoking provides a "short-term regulated system" for nicotine delivery "settled by the smoker at each puff, more or less independently of the available quantity." Determines a need to pursue the question of whether specific products are suited to specific smokers, through investigation of smoking behavior of "a few well selected smokers". Concludes with a list of objectives to achieve the stated goal.

Contains smoker psychology research report presented to the Philip Morris Board of Directors. Discusses briefly the scope of the Philip Morris Research Center. Focuses on the psychology of smoking and the part psychologists play in "our research and development program." Informs of the importance of smoker psychology to Philip Morris' research program. Queries as to what causes people to begin smoking and to continue smoking, why some smokers smoke so much and others so little, and discusses the possible benefits of smoking to smokers. Includes a profile of the "typical smoker" and delineates behavioral, physiological, and psychological differences between smokers and non-smokers. Discusses reliable measures of actual smoke intake, noting that a "smoker's intake level is determined by the smoker himself, not by the manufacturer of the cigarets." Includes copies of the slides used in the presentation.

Summarizes presentations made at the BAT Smoking Behaviour-Marketing Conference in July 1984. Includes discussion of smoking and compensation; smoke elasticity; Passport, a new low sidestream brand being marketed in Canada; potential of nicotine addition to cigarettes; interaction between product development and human smoking behaviour; salivation rates and inhalation of cigarette smoke; and consumer awareness of smoking and health. Notes that "nicotine is both the driving force and the signal (as impact) for compensation in human smoking behaviour." Summarizes a presentation regarding the relationship of nicotine to product acceptability, smoker satisfaction, and physiology, in order to initiate conversation regarding how "to begin to maximise nicotine effects." Determines the acceptability of Aries, a cigarette mouthpiece devised to deliver low tar and high, unfiltered, "'old-fashioned'" tobacco taste; found that smokers could not adjust their smoking behavior to compensate for the device, resulting in ARIES being smoked too intensely and making the smoke too strong, too irritating, and bitter or dirty tasting. Discusses elasticity of a cigarette, the diagnosis of a realistic range of smoking behaviours in order to measure "the amount of smoke a smoker can take out of a cigarette." Contains delineation of introverted and extroverted personality types, ability to manage stress, smoking behavior, and susceptability to a "reward and punishment" system in relation to smoking. Includes diagrams, equations evaluating puff volume, graphs, charts, and copies of slides used in various presentations.