Smoking cessation among self-quitters.

Examined cessation among 630 smokers who quit abruptly on their own. Continuous, complete abstinence rates were 33% at 2 days, 24% at 7 days, 22% at 14 days, 19% at 1 mo, 11% at 3 mo, 8% at 6 mo postcessation, and 3% at 6 mo with biochemical verification. Slipping (smoking an average of less than 1 cigarette/day) was common (9% to 15% of Ss) and was a strong predictor of relapse; however, 23% of long-term abstainers slipped at some point. Results challenge beliefs that most smokers can initially stop smoking and that most relapse occurs later on postcessation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)