Misperceptions About the Effectiveness of Cutting Down and Low-Rate Daily Smoking for Reducing the Risk of Tobacco-Caused Harm

Recent epidemiological evidence confirms that the risks of harm associated with low-rate smoking and cutting down are much higher than would be expected if the relationship between consumption and harm was linear. Findings from this study indicate that misperceptions about the benefits conferred by these smoking patterns are pervasive among people who smoke, particularly among those who currently smoke at a low rate. Corrective education that explains the mechanisms for the increased risk posed by these behaviors could be delivered via package health warnings and/or public health campaigns and may provide low-rate and occasional smokers with additional reasons to quit.