title: Use of nicotine replacement after a smoking lapse.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Current labeling for nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in the United States and many countries discourages continued use of NRT after a lapse; however, recent studies and consensus statements conclude that continuing NRT postlapse substantially increases long-term abstinence. What percent of clinicians recommend continuation of NRT upon a lapse and what percent of NRT users continue NRT postlapse are unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  The author queried 24 treatment smoking cessation programs or providers, treatment protocols, directors of quitlines and state programs, published treatment texts, and self-help manuals, books, and Internet sites. The author also recruited 101 current smokers who had attempted to stop smoking in the last 3 months and lapsed while using NRT to complete a survey via an E-mail invitation to an Internet consumer database (www.zoomerang.com).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most programs and providers (67%) did not discuss use of NRT postlapse, and only 8% recommended continuing NRT postlapse. Among recent quitters using NRT, about one fourth (27%) stopped NRT on the day of the lapse, and one fourth (25%) used NRT for only 1 or 2 days postlapse. Most (73%) reported that use of NRT postlapse was helpful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, advice to use NRT postlapse and actual use of NRT for several days postlapse are uncommon.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05401, USA. john.hughes@uvm.edu
authors: John R
authors: JR
authors: Hughes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013997:Time Factors; D061485:Tobacco Use Cessation Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult