Yale Bulletin and Calendar

October 3, 2003|Volume 32, Number 5

Two studies aim to help smokers quit the habit

Smokers who are trying to quit were given another good reason to do so Oct. 1, when a new Connecticut law went into effect banning smoking in restaurants.

In addition, under the new law, companies with five or more workers must also enact a smoking ban. Previously, the state law said companies with 20 or more employees must have a ban.

Two studies by the Center for Nicotine and Tobacco Use Research at Yale (CENTURY) are designed to help smokers who want to kick the habit. In addition to helping individual smokers, a representative of CENTURY can assist companies that are interested in helping their employees who want to quit smoking.

According to published research, a significant percentage of those who smoke a pack or more a day report failure in trying to quit or cut back. Those who are able to quit usually require several attempts.

One of the Yale studies will try to determine what kind of information works best when it comes to encouraging smokers to quit. Participants in this study will receive a drug that can ease the process of quitting smoking by reducing the craving for cigarettes. For seven weeks, all participants in the study will receive information on quitting smoking and will take Zyban.

Participants in the other study will join a one-month intensive smoking cessation program that will teach them how to quit, and prevent relapse. It also will reward abstinence from smoking with increasing amounts of money. This program will not use any drugs to assist smoking cessation.

To find out more, or to sign up, contact Susan at (203) 974-7588, send e-mail to century@yale.edu or visit the CENTURY website at www.quitwithyale.org/.

-- By Pem McNerney

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Campus Notes