Incorporation of Rapid Smoking in a Community Service Smoking Withdrawal Program

Abstract

Posttreatment abstinence rates of 50% had been found in a smoking withdrawal program which included group hypnosis and group counseling. A session of rapid smoking was added to the procedures with the intention of further increasing abstinence rates. Only 13% of the smokers exposed to the combined program quit smoking as compared to 38% of the smokers who participated in the same program but with the session of group hypnosis excluded. Possible explanations of the obtained results include motivational reduction, procedural deviations, and medical screening. Suitability of rapid smoking for community service programs is discussed.