title: Light and intermittent cigarette smokers: a review (1989-2009).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Growing proportions of smokers in the USA do not smoke everyday and can be referred to as light and intermittent smokers (LITS). Despite a current prevalence of LITS in the USA estimated at 25-33% of all smokers, a systematic review of the literature on this group of smokers has yet to be written.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper is to review and evaluate research on LITS and to identify, describe and discuss commonalities and differences between LITS and daily smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary databases used to search for publications were Pub Med (National Library of Medicine) and SCOPUS (Elsevier).
  
  
  RESULTS
  LITS inhale smoke and have post-smoking blood nicotine concentrations that are broadly equivalent to those found in daily smokers. However, LITS differ from daily smokers with regard to cigarette consumption and frequency of cigarette use, sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, motives, personality traits, dependence, withdrawal and craving, response to smoking-related cues, quitting perception, past-smoking status, and initiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In contrast to daily smokers, LITS show few or no signs of dependence as currently defined by DSM-IV criteria, appear to exercise more self-control, seem to be less impulsive, and their smoking experience is primarily associated with positive rather than negative reinforcement. Conclusions drawn from the reviewed literature highlight the multivariate factors that must be taken into account when defining LITS and emphasize the importance of further research on this increasing fraction of smokers. The potential implications of increased LITS prevalence on smoking-related disease risks remain to be thoroughly investigated.
authors.affiliation: Carson Watts Consulting, King, NC 27021, USA.
authors.forename: Chris R E
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Coggins
authors.forename: E Lenn
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Murrelle
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Carchman
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heidbreder
mesh_terms: D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D009538:Nicotine / Q000097:blood; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D009538:Nicotine