Association of coffee drinking with cigarette smoking in the natural environment

Coffee drinking may serve as a cue for cigarette smoking. The association of coffee drinking and cigarette smoking in the natural environment was studied in 6 participants who recorded every instance of ad lib cigarette smoking and coffee drinking for 4 consecutive days. The rate of cigarette smoking was higher during intervals associated with coffee drinking (2.4 cigarettes/hr) than at other times of the day (1.0 cigarettes/hr). However, diary records revealed that on average only 14% of cigarettes were smoked while drinking coffee, and only 55% of coffee-drinking events were accompanied by cigarettes. These results suggest that coffee drinking may exert some stimulus control over smoking in the natural environment. However, given the limited number of coffee-drinking episodes compared with cigarettes consumed in a day, the contributions of coffee drinking to maintaining smoking behavior are probably minimal.

Duke Scholars

Author James Dundas Lane Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neur ...