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Cigarette Continuity Programs and Social Support for Smoking
Walton Sumner II, MD;
Michael Dunaway, MD;
D. Gene Dillman II, MD
Arch Fam Med. 1998;7:264-268.
Objective To describe smokers' participation in cigarette continuity programs and the prevalence and structure of cooperative teams of smokers.
Methods Cross-sectional survey of smoking histories and continuity-program participation by individuals and their family members in a convenience sample of 176 current smokers at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington. Fisher exact test or  2 tests were used to compare proportions.
Results One of 3 smokers collected coupons for a continuity program. Three quarters of the collectors redeemed their own coupons, and one quarter gave coupons to another collector. Coupon collectors reported an average team size of more than 2 members. One fifth of collectors were teammates with another generation of family members, and one quarter of collectors aged 24 to 35 years were teammates with their children. Smokers were often aware of their relatives' coupon-collecting habits.
Conclusions Continuity programs have been a popular means of reinforcing smoking, especially within families and groups of friends. Continuity programs are novel in encouraging smoking and brand loyalty between generations. Continuity-program participants need to be aware of the risk of promoting smoking initiation by their children. Health advocates could use similar strategies to promote smoking cessation and prevention within families and other social groups.
From the Division of General Medical Sciences, Washington University, St Louis, Mo (Dr Sumner), and the Department of Family Practice, University of Kentucky, Lexington (Drs Dunaway and Dillman).
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Patient Commentary
Don Fielder
Arch Fam Med. 1998;7(3):268.
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