Category: News Stories

BREATHE 2 Study Re-Launches at Pilot Clinic with COVID-19 Precautions

The Breaking Addiction to Tobacco for Health 2 (BREATHE 2) study re-launched at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center on November 11. “We all worked so hard to get here once in March 2020, stopped for COVID and then retooled,” said UW-CTRI Director of Research Administration Amy Conlon. “Our staff have done monumental good work in developing …

Study Finds Varenicline Best Before Quitting, Combo Meds During a Quit Attempt

It is difficult to quit smoking, but, building on the discoveries of Dr. Tim Baker, a new study has shown that taking the right medication at the right time can make a difference. According to new research in the journal Addiction, when compared to only using a nicotine patch, varenicline significantly reduced craving and anticipated …

HUD Residents Report Smoke-free Rule Spurred Positive Changes

More than 80 percent of smokers living in spaces supported by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Milwaukee reported they made at least one positive change to their tobacco use thanks to the 2018 rule prohibiting smoking within 25 feet of HUD housing. The results from a survey, conducted by a coalition led by the …

Advocates Celebrate ‘Mac’ on His 64-year Anniversary of Recovery

David “Mac” Macmaster’s father was an alcoholic and a smoker. His dad eventually quit drinking, but it might be no surprise that Mac also struggled with those addictions—including while he served in the Canadian Navy during the Korean War. “I got in so much trouble while I was in the Navy,” Macmaster said. “It was …

Dr. Baker’s Novel Treatment Can Improve Craving and Anhedonia

A novel treatment can suppress significant withdrawal symptoms more effectively than the usual care, according to a UW-CTRI paper published in the journal Addiction. This innovative approach, developed by UW-CTRI Research Director Dr. Tim Baker, suggests the process of quitting smoking can be divided into phases, each with different opportunities for intervention. Starting treatment while …

Conlon Presents at State Virtual Conference

UW-CTRI Director of Research Administration Amy Conlon presented “Applying the Science and Art of Project Management to Public Health Initiatives” in August at the Wisconsin Public Health Association’s Virtual Statewide Conference. Conlon (right) highlighted five key tools to help manage public-health projects effectively. They include the: To watch the full presentation, click here.

JAMA Internal Medicine Paper: ‘Best’ Hospitals Should Report on their Tobacco Treatment

UW-CTRI Director Dr. Michael Fiore and his co-authors recently pointed out a weakness in the high-profile “Best Hospitals Honor Roll” published annually by U.S. News and World Report. Namely, that these hospitals aren’t reporting on how they treat the leading preventable cause of disease and death: Tobacco use. Their paper, published recently in JAMA Internal Medicine, …

Dr. Mike Miller Collaborates with UW-CTRI to Help Smokers Quit

Dr. Mike Miller (left) has been advocating for free access to medications to help Medicaid members quit smoking, and a parade of support is following him. That includes UW-CTRI, the Wisconsin Medical Society (WMS), and the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin (PSW). Medicaid members can already get nicotine-replacement medications (NRT) at their pharmacies, but they aren’t …

Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line Offers New Website, New Program

The Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line on Oct. 1, 2020 debuted a new website with one-click technology to either call or text the Quit Line from a mobile device or computer. It also marked the launch of a new program designed specifically to help people of American Indian decent to quit commercial tobacco use. The American …

California Bans All Tobacco Flavors

California on August 28 became the second state (after Massachusetts) to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products—including flavored e-cigarettes, flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes. In California, more than 85 percent of youth who use e-cigarettes use flavored products, and more than 85 percent of youth who use little cigars use flavored cigars. In addition, more …