Smoking cessation among self-quitters.
We examined cessation among 630 smokers who quit abruptly on their own. Continuous, complete abstinence rates were 33% at 2 days, 24% at 7 days, 22% at 14 days, 19% at 1 month, 11% at 3 months, 8% at 6 months postcessation, and 3% at 6 months with biochemical verification. Slipping (smoking an average of less than 1 cigarette/day) was common (9% to 15% of subjects) and was a strong predictor of relapse; however, 23% of long-term abstainers slipped at some point. These results challenge beliefs that most smokers can initially stop smoking and that most relapse occurs later on postcessation.
Hughes
J R
JR
Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington 05401.
Gulliver
S B
SB
Fenwick
J W
JW
Valliere
W A
WA
Cruser
K
K
Pepper
S
S
Shea
P
P
Solomon
L J
LJ
Flynn
B S
BS
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012008:Recurrence; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*
D009538:Nicotine