Prolonged Smoking Cessation Using Prescription Step Care

Smoking is the number one preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in this nation. Unfortunately, more than 50% of those who quit following a smoking cessation intervention typically relapse within two weeks, with approximately 80% relapsing within six months. Therefore, tobacco use can be conceptualized as a chronic condition. As with many chronic medical problems, tobacco use interventions may benefit from a step care approach to treatment.

A total of 400 adult smokers will be enrolled in the study. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions consisting of: 1) A State of the Art Smoking Cessation Intervention + Recycling or: 2) A State of the Art Smoking Cessation Intervention + Step Care. Long term smoking cessation will be assessed by self-report, exhaled carbon monoxide levels, and salivary cotinine. The primary endpoint of the study will be smoking abstinence rates at two-year follow-up. It is predicted that long-term cessation rates will be significantly higher in the step care condition than for those assigned to the recycling group.