Before quitting they'd averaged 26 cigarettes a day and had the first one about 15 minutes after waking up, which is an indicator of tobacco dependence. The personalized program, developed by Shiffman and fellow researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, combined a smoker's personal information with behavioral approaches to smoking cessation. In a phone interview, smokers were asked about a dozen questions, including their gender, age, smoking history, estimated quit date and the difficulties they expected to face when they stopped. He thinks this method of reaching smokers could be more effective than current smoking clinics. The process is uncomfortable.
Tobacco addiction affects people differently.
The association's numerous stop-smoking programs emphasize the power of education, he adds. What To Do If you're interested in the personalized computer help program, you can find out more at Committed Quitters . For more help in stopping smoking, see the Mayo Clinic . And a wealth of smoking statistics can be found by going to the American Lung Association . Click here to find out more.