Nicotine addiction over the process of implementing tobacco control programs

Introduction. The prevalence of tobacco smoking among the population of the Russian Federation remains high, as a result of which the issue of combating tobacco smoking remains relevant.

Purpose. To study the structure of nicotine addiction and the trend that have occurred over twelve years over the process of implementing programs to combat tobacco smoking in the adult population.

Materials and methods. In 2024, 626 smokers (428 men, 198 women) aged of 16 to 79 years (average — 33.3 ± 13.9 years) were surveyed. 511 people (81.6%) were from urban settlements, 115 (18.4%) — from rural areas. The following tests were used: a questionnaire with social indicators, information on tobacco smoking, Fagerström tests to determine nicotine addiction; scale of E.S. Souza et al. — motives for smoking; test of V.F. Levshin — on readiness to quit smoking. Mathematical and statistical processing included descriptive statistics and calculation of the distribution.

Results. During 2024, almost 75% of respondents, more often men, had nicotine addiction. They smoked unfiltered cigarettes much more often. Women, in addition to regular cigarettes, also smoked electronic cigarettes more often. Over the past 12 years, the number of smokers without symptoms of nicotine addiction and with severe nicotine addiction has significantly decreased, but their share with weak nicotine addiction has increased. Men began to smoke fewer cigarettes, while women, on the contrary, significantly increased their number. The proportion of smokers motivated to quit smoking has increased.

Limitations of the study. The study takes into account the no regional characteristics of the smoking population.

Conclusion. The noted circumstances should be taken into account when managing preventive measures, taking into account the regional and gender characteristics of smoking.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Moscow State Technical University named after K.G. Razumovsky (Protocol No. 5 dated of March 20, 2025). All participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.

Contribution of the authors:
Golenkov A.V. — concept and design of the study, collection of materials, writing the text;
Bonkalo T.I. — writing the text, statistical data processing, editing;
Shmeleva S.V. — collection of materials, writing the text, editing, compiling the list of references.
All co-authors — approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship support.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no obvious or potential conflicts of interest in connection with the publication of this article.

Received: March 21, 2025 / Accepted: June 24, 2025 / Published: October 31, 2025

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