Become a Non-Smoker: Improving Access to Services Smokers Need to Quit

Implementation Plan: Our implementation plan is to provide fifty (50) low-income participants with twelve intensive educational sessions accompanied by the utilization of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) followed by weekly support group meetings focused on relapse prevention. This method has three phases. During the first phase, this usually lasts a week, participant's record in a chart whenever they smoke a cigarette. Since a smoker receives about a milligram of nicotine per cigarette, counting the number of cigarettes smoked is a good indicator of how much nicotine a smoker needs to prevent withdrawal. During the second phase, which usually lasts about 12 weeks, participants change the way they receive their daily doses of nicotine. Starting with the first day of this phase, smokers replace tobacco with nicotine patches. These products can provide enough nicotine to prevent craving. Over the 12 weeks participants slowly reduce the amount of nicotine they administer to themselves until the intake has been reduced to zero. Participants are provided with education and training to help them be~ome nonsmokers. They meet with others in a support group. an integral part of the Cooper-Clayton method. Research has shown that the chances for success improve if participants meet regularly to discuss common goals and to encourage each other to remain smoke-free. During the third phase, which lasts about 12 weeks, the focus is on relapse prevention. Participants are commended about their decision to become nonsmokers. Participants are shown how to cope and apply strategies to deal with stress, anger and depression in a life without nicotine. They are encouraged to continue meeting with others in their support group since the dynamic they have created helps keep them motivated.