After one year, researchers found that 20 percent of those in the intensive program quit smoking and 47 percent made progress toward quitting, while in the self-help program the rates were 15 percent and 34 percent, respectively. In both groups, most people who improved moved up one stage rather than several stages. Those reporting they had quit were given saliva and breath tests for tobacco residue. The spiritually-oriented program emphasized giving yourself up to a higher power to allow the spirit to guide quitting rather than the usual method of taking control of yourself. Smoking has declined greatly among white Americans but only slightly among African-Americans in the last several years.
Recent studies suggest that smokers go through several stages before quitting for good.