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Cited by 1,414Smoking Behavior and CessationSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesBehavioral Health and Interventions

Shape of the relapse curve and long-term abstinence among untreated smokers

Hughes, John R., Keely, Josue, Naud, Shelly·2004·Addiction
DOI 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00540.x
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Abstract

Objective To describe the relapse curve and rate of long‐term prolonged abstinence among smokers who try to quit without treatment. Method Systematic literature review. Data sources Cochrane Reviews, Dissertation Abstracts, Excerpt Medica, Medline, Psych Abstracts and US Center for Disease Control databases plus bibliographies of articles and requests of scientists. Study selection Prospective studies of self‐quitters or studies that included a no‐treatment control group. Data extraction Two reviewers independently extracted data in a non‐blind manner. Data synthesis The number of studies was too small and the data too heterogeneous for meta‐analysis or other statistical techniques. Results There is a paucity of studies reporting relapse curves of self‐quitters. The existing eight relapse curves from two studies of self‐quitters and five no‐treatment control groups indicate most relapse occurs in the first 8 days. These relapse curves were heterogeneous even when the final outcome was made similar. In terms of prolonged abstinence rates, a prior summary of 10 self‐quitting studies, two other studies of self‐quitters and three no‐treatment control groups indicate 3–5% of self‐quitters achieve prolonged abstinence for 6–12 month after a given quit attempt. Conclusions More reports of relapse curves of self‐quitters are needed. Smoking cessation interventions should focus on the first week of abstinence. Interventions that produce abstinence rates of 5–10% may be effective. Cessation studies should report relapse curves.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00540.x

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  • At 1 year, abstinence rates with self-quitters are approximately 3%, considerably lower than the 8% found here.

    “At 1 year, abstinence rates with self-quitters are approximately 3%, 86 considerably lower than the 8% found here.”

    From Evaluating Long-term Outcomes of NHS Stop Smoking Services (ELONS): a prospective cohort study (2015) · cites this paper as [86]

  • The risk of relapse is substantially reduced with each week of abstinence that passes.

    “The effect is substantially reduced risk of relapse with each week of abstinence that passes (32).”

    From The Multiple Facets of Cigarette Addiction and What They Mean for Encouraging and Helping Smokers to Stop (2009) · cites this paper as [32]

  • The CB1 antagonist rimonabant reduces nicotine-induced increase in dopamine turnover in the nucleus acumens and nicotine self-administration in animals.

    “The CB1 antagonist reduces the nicotine-induced increase in dopamine turnover in the nucleus acumens and nicotine self-administration in animals (137)”

    From Tobacco addiction (2008) · cites this paper as [137]

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Authors
Hughes, J. R., Keely, J., & Naud, S.
Affiliations
University of Vermont (US)
Corresponding author
Hughes, John R.
ORCID
Hughes, John R.
Venue
Addiction
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2003-12-17
Volume
99
Issue
1
Pages
29-38
ISSN
  • 0965-2140 (ISSN-L)
  • 1360-0443
DOI
10.1111/j.1360-0443.2004.00540.x
OpenAlex
W2171217747
Cited by
1,414
References
59
Citations by year
2026: 40 · 2025: 40 · 2024: 70 · 2023: 69 · 2022: 62 · 2021: 79 · 2020: 64 · 2019: 69 · 2018: 74 · 2017: 76 · 2016: 80 · 2015: 85 · 2014: 77 · 2013: 85 · 2012: 92
FWCI
2.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Addiction (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA07242, DA00490)
  • National Cancer Institute
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
Keywords
smoking cessation, long-term abstinence, early abstinence, smoking cessation interventions
MeSH terms
Smoking Prevention, Humans, Prospective Studies, Recurrence, Self Care, Time Factors, Survival Analysis, Smoking Cessation

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