Minimal contact treatment for smoking cessation. A placebo controlled trial of XXXX polacrilex and self-directed relapse prevention: initial results of the Stanford Stop Smoking Project.

@entity1 @entity1239
To determine the effectiveness of @entity1239 polacrilex combined with self-administered relapse prevention materials in maintaining smoking cessation, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. Volunteers aged 18 to 65 years responding to media announcements were required to quit smoking for 48 hours without assistance. Of 1844 potential @entity1 , 136 were medically excluded, 535 declined to make a quit attempt, and 573 were unable to quit, leaving 600 @entity1 (35%) who were randomized. Eight self-help relapse prevention modules were mailed weekly. Gum was used either ad lib for smoking urges or on a fixed, hourly schedule (12 pieces per day). Only 15% of the subjects in each gum group stopped using the gum altogether because of side effects, but only 20% of the ad lib groups and 40% of the fixed-dosage group used at least eight pieces of gum per day during the first week. The abstinence rates (for at least seven days) at the six-month follow-up were 31% in both active gum groups and 22% in the placebo and no gum groups. Relapse rates in the two active gum groups were about half those in the placebo and no gum groups. @entity1239 polacrilex may be a useful adjunct to minimal contact smoking cessation formats, which have broad appeal. Also, minimal contact relapse prevention programs may assist physicians in helping @entity1 to maintain smoking cessation using @entity1239 polacrilex.
