Q. What about low-nicotine cigarettes?

For $25, the Quit Smart program arms smokers with support group meetings, nonsmoking handouts, a meditation tape, low-nicotine cigarettes and a plastic cigarette for holding.

A milligram dose may seem large, particularly when low-nicotine cigarettes advertise that smokers' blood absorbs a tenth that amount.

Philip Morris plans to market its low-nicotine cigarette to Now and Carlton smokers.

In another study, women who sampled both standard and low-nicotine cigarettes noted less of a difference in their enjoyment and perceived nicotine intake than male participants did.

Ms. Daragan said Next, which was promoted as a low-nicotine cigarette was dropped in 1991 because of lack of consumer demand.

"It led to problems in some families, with people on the low-nicotine cigarettes going into withdrawal and getting hard to live with," Dr. Hood said.

It is bad enough to learn that so-called low-tar and low-nicotine cigarettes are no better for your health than are regular cigarettes.

Dr. Koop offers no testimonials to low-tar, low-nicotine cigarettes.

Of particular interest to smokers is the news that low-tar, low-nicotine cigarettes actually have as much tar and nicotine as any other cigarettes.