NICOTINE GUM USE IN THE 1ST YEAR OF THE LUNG HEALTH STUDY

Of 3,923 special intervention participants in the Lung Health Study wh o were offered nicotine gum to help them quit smoking, 1,080 (28.9%) w ere using nicotine gum 12 months after entry into the study. This grou p is comprised of 33.6% sustained nonsmokers, 54.5% intermittent smoke rs, and 19.2% continuing smokers. The average use of gum at 12 months is 7.3 pieces per day. At 12 months, men were significantly more likel y to be nonsmokers than women, but women were significantly more likel y to use gum than men. Among the sustained nonsmokers, continuous gum users reported significantly more mild side effects than those who use d gum intermittently, although there were no differences in moderate o r severe side effects between the two groups. Overall, the rate of obs erved side effects was small. Factors associated with nicotine depende nce were related to the use and amount of gum use at 12 months.