Brief residential treatment for nicotine addiction: a five-year follow-up study

Relapse is a major problem with nicotine addiction. This study investigated the long-term abstinence rate and effectiveness of a five-day residential nicotine treatment program. Questionnaires were mailed to all clients who completed the program between 1991 and 1996. 47% of the questionnaires were returned. Of these, 65% of respondents reported being abstinent from nicotine for an average period of 120 weeks. Of this group, 15% reported at least one relapse before a sustained abstinence. The primary relapse triggers for both the abstinent and nonabstinent groups were coping with "strong emotional feelings". Over 50% of the sample was comorbid for other addictions, depression or anxiety disorders.