Study Finds COVID Vaccine Particularly Benefits Patients Who are Obese, Older

In a recent study, researchers from the University of Wisconsin found that having a COVID-19 vaccination reduces the likelihood of dying from COVID and the size of this effect differs across different patient groups. In particular, the benefits of vaccination are especially great for some of those who otherwise would have had the greatest risk …

Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line Offers New, Expanded Services

Beginning March 1, the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line will expand its free services to help people quit smoking, vaping, or other tobacco use. Now, in addition to free calls, the Quit Line will offer free texting and online chatting with live quit coaches. And, for a limited time, the Quit Line will offer one 8-week …

Tobacco Companies Continue to Mislead the Public

They Say They Want Reduced Harm – They’re Doing the Opposite The tobacco industry purports to support an approach to reduce the harm from their products—but their actions are doing the opposite, according to two national public health experts, former US Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Howard Koh and US Public Health Service Clinical Practice …

Study: Wisconsin Adults Who Smoke Receive Primary Care Less, Visit the Hospital More

Wisconsin adults who smoke are receiving primary care less and visiting emergency departments more than their non-smoking counterparts, highlighting a need for change in the way the healthcare community reaches out to the most vulnerable individuals. In this new study— published in the Wisconsin Medical Journal—researchers analyzed 1,726 survey responses collected between 2014 and 2016, …

UW-CTRI to Present at Conference in Texas

UW-CTRI colleagues will present their research findings at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) in San Antonio, Texas, March 1-4, 2023. Here’s a list. Wednesday, March 1, 2023 Friday, March 3, 2023 Saturday, March 4, 2023 Dr. Michael Fiore will not be at SRNT, but he will appear …

Granddaughter Happy Because BREATHE 2 Participant Quit Smoking

Denise started smoking around age 12 or 13 and has since quit for extended periods of time when she was pregnant with each of her four grown children, and another time when her doctor prescribed Wellbutrin. But, since Wellbutrin was contraindicated with another medication she was taking, she stopped using Wellbutrin and returned to smoking. …

Billboard Promotes Quit Line Program for Teens

FACT students helped design this billboard now standing just outside of Poplar, Wisconsin, along Highway 2, seen by frequent traffic. The billboard, coordinated by Charmaine Swan from the American Lung Association, is located near a middle school. It encourages youth who vape to text the Quit Line for help via the Live Vape Free program. …

UW-CTRI Media Round-up: Talking Resolutions

Each January, people get around to talking ’bout their resolutions. UW-CTRI disseminated the news release, How to Quit Smoking: The 5 Best Tips for 2023 New Year’s Resolutions, via its media channels, and Google made it the #1 search answer for searches for quit smoking tips for 2023 resolutions. More than 245 unique individuals have visited the page …

Student Presents Poster on Nicotine Patch

UW-CTRI Student Julia Sales Leite recently presented her poster, The Impact of the Nicotine Patch on Sleep in Patients Undergoing Smoking Cessation Treatment, at the UW Undergraduate Research Symposium. She created the poster for her Bio 152 class. UW-CTRI Director of Clinical Services Dr. Doug Jorenby was a co-author. They found that, while the nicotine …

Collaborators Empower African Americans to Quit Tobacco Use

UW-CTRI Researcher Dr. Adrienne Johnson presented research findings at the Quarterly Meeting & Celebration of the Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network (WAATPN) and Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention & Poverty Network (WTPPN) in December at Victory Manor, a vibrant community center located in the Westlawn Gardens neighborhood on Milwaukee’s northwest side. Johnson presented research she has …