Characteristics of cigarette smokers seeking treatment for cessation versus reduction

Comparisons were made between cigarette smokers seeking treatment to quit smoking and cigarette smokers seeking treatment to reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke. Potential subjects were recruited from the local metropolitan area by advertisement in the local media. A total of 665 cigarette smokers telephoned our clinic to seek treatment for smoking cessation and 565 cigarette smokers telephoned to seek treatment to gradually reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke but not quit smoking. Potential subjects were instructed to call the clinic to find out additional information about the studies, and while on the telephone they were asked questions pertaining to tobacco use and health status. The results show that the two populations are similar in many respects with the following exceptions: smokers seeking treatment to reduce cigarette use tend to smoke more cigarettes per day, are less motivated to quit, make fewer quit attempts, drink more alcoholic beverages per day, and have more health problems (Ps < .05). These results indicate that cigarette smokers seeking treatment for smoking reduction but not cessation may be more dependent smokers who experience more medical disorders. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.