ArticleDrug and alcohol dependence2019
"Phantom smokers": Young cigarillo users who do not identify as smokers.
Article in Drug and alcohol dependence, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Patterns of use, perceptions, and cardiopulmonary health risks of cigar products: a systematic review.BMC public health · 2023Pooled it
- Cravings, Control, and Cessation: A Scoping Review of Perceptions of Nicotine Addiction.Current addiction reports · 2025Review
- Article
- Factors Associated with Use of Cigars, Little Cigars, Cigarillos, and Blunts among Hip Hop Youth in the United States.American journal of health behavior · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionMany young consumers of non-cigarette tobacco products, such as cigarillos, do not identify as smokers. These "phantom smokers" tend to underestimate risks to health and feel little urgency to quit. This study examines the prevalence and characteristics of phantom smoker status among young cigarillo users.
methodsAn online survey was conducted among 14-28 year olds who smoke at least 2 cigarillos per week. Phantom smoker status was determined by a negative response to "Do you consider yourself a smoker?" Other variables included smoking frequency, group smoking and sharing, and confidence in ability to quit. Associations between smoker identity and these variables were tested using chi square, independent samples t-tests and multivariable logistic regression.
resultsOf 1089 respondents, 242 (22%) were identified as phantom smokers. Phantoms smoked half as many cigarillos per week as identified smokers (M = 4.75, SD = 5.11 vs. M = 11.33, SD = 0.88, p < .001) and phantoms were more likely to smoke only when sharing (39.7% vs 21.8%, p < .001). While 59.5% of identified smokers also smoked cigarettes, only 33.5% of phantoms did so (p < .001). Most phantom smokers (83.8%) were unconcerned about addiction. Phantoms also expressed greater confidence in their ability to quit (M = 4.40, SD = 0.98) than did identified smokers (M = 3.72, SD = 1.25, p < .001).
conclusionsDespite regular cigarillo use, over 20% of respondents did not identify as smokers. Cigarillo smoking, along with non-daily and shared use, should be routinely assessed among youth. Phantom smokers' lack of concern about addiction and high confidence in their ability to quit may render conventional messages about smoking risk ineffective.
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Registered trials
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