New Survey Extinguishes 'Smoking is Sexy' Myth 

PRNewswire    March 28, 2005    Press Release Source: GlaxoSmithKline

April Fool's to Smokers Who Think They're Hot! Smoking Can Actually Harm Your Sexual Health 

PITTSBURGH -- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Healthcare today released
survey findings that decisively refute the myth that smokers are "sexy." In
fact, in a national survey of 784 adults aged 18-44, an overwhelming
majority of respondents -- 87% -- disagreed with the sentiment that smoking
is sexy. Adding insult to injury, among all adults, almost one quarter (24%)
have actually turned down sex because the potential partner was a smoker.

The April Fool's survey also shows that most people find smoking a drag when
considering a romantic partner, with more than three-quarters of adults
preferring to date non-smokers. And the finding is not limited to those who
don't light up themselves, as even 76% of smokers admit that the habit isn't
sexy. "There's no doubt that quitting smoking has immediate health benefits.
But if people need an additional incentive to quit above and beyond their
overall health, perhaps this unexpected advantage to their personal lives is
it. We want to be there to help smokers quit regardless of their reason for
trying," said Bill Slivka, Vice President, Smoking Control, GSK Consumer
Healthcare.

The survey, while lighthearted on its face, is bolstered by several studies
that reveal the very serious effect smoking can have on sexual performance
in men. Smoking restricts bloodflow and can impact the quality of sexual
response. In one study, smokers as young as 31-49 were 50% more likely than
nonsmokers to report and suffer from erectile dysfunction.(1) This very real
problem is nearly unknown to smokers, as only 28% of those surveyed agree
that smoking can cause this side effect.

Fortunately, quitting smoking can improve erectile dysfunction, and new data
show that even the heaviest smokers benefit from using medical nicotine to
quit.(2) "Many heavily addicted smokers believe nothing can help them, but
we now know that these smokers are among the most successful in quitting
using medicinal nicotine," said Slivka. "We hope that the added bonus to
their sexual health is the push they need to quit."

GSK Consumer Healthcare has a long history in developing innovative smoking
cessation products, and currently markets the broadest range of non-
prescription, FDA-approved quit methods, including NicoDerm® CQ® patch,
Nicorette® gum, and Commit® lozenge. To date, GSK Consumer Healthcare's
stop-smoking products have helped more than 2 million Americans stop smoking
by providing lower, safe doses of nicotine to ease withdrawal from
cigarettes. GSK Consumer Healthcare's medicinal nicotine products are
clinically proven to help smokers safely manage the symptoms of nicotine
dependence and withdrawal so they can quit successfully.(3) These products
help smokers quit without exposing them to the more than 4,000 chemicals and
at least 69 known or suspected carcinogens found in tobacco smoke.(4)
Smokers can choose which medicinal nicotine product to use based upon their
preferences and individual smoking habits, including how much they smoke.
Further, smokers can choose a GSK Consumer Healthcare medication confident
in the knowledge that these products have been tested in over 100 controlled
clinical trials involving over 35,000 participants and found to be safe and
effective in helping smokers quit.(5)

About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world's largest over-
the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-
known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicorette® and
NicoDerm®, as well as many medicine cabinet staples, Abreva®, Aquafresh®,
Sensodyne® and Tums®. GSK Consumer Healthcare continues to develop
innovative products to help all smokers find their best support system and
achieve their goal of being cigarette free.

About GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline is one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical
and consumer healthcare companies. GlaxoSmithKline is committed to improving
the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and
live longer.

About the Survey

This survey was conducted for GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare using
Opinion Research Corporation's CARAVAN® National Omnibus. Telephone
interviews were conducted from March 10-14, 2005 among 784 adults 18-44
years of age. A random-digit-dial sampling methodology was implemented for
this study.

Margin of error: The results achieved from all sample surveys are subject to
sampling error. Sampling error is defined as the difference between the
results obtained from the sample and those that would have been obtained had
the entire relevant population been surveyed. The sampling error for the
total sample of this survey (n = 784) is plus or minus 3.5 percentage
points. Please note that when comparing smaller subgroups, such as
respondents divided by gender categories, the margin of error increases.

(1) Mannino DM, Klevens RM, Flanders WD. Cigarette smoking: an independent
risk factor for impotence? American Journal of Epidemiology 1994;140:
1003-1008.

(2) Shiffman S, Di Marino MA, Pillitteri, JL. The effectiveness of nicotine
patch and nicotine lozenge in very heavy smokers. Journal of Substance Abuse
2005;28(1): 49-55

(3) Public Health Service Guidelines, 2000. Fiore MC, Bailey WC, Cohen SJ,
et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. Clinical Practice Guideline.
Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health
Service. June 2000.

(4) http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/[...]v/ntp/roc/toc11.html , Report on Carcinogens,
Eleventh Edition; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public
Health Service, National Toxicology Program.

(5) http://www.cochrane.org/[...]evabstr/ab000146.htm

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Source: GlaxoSmithKline   
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