A brief abstinence test for college student smokers: a feasibility study
Jessica G Irons1, Christopher J Correia
1Department of Psychology, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22801, USA. ironsjg@jmu.edu
Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology
|June 11, 2008
Summary
A Brief Abstinence Test (BAT) effectively initiated smoking cessation in college students. This reinforced abstinence approach showed promise for reducing cigarette use in research and clinical settings.
Area of Science:
- Addiction research
- Behavioral science
- Public health
Background:
- Cigarette smoking is common among college students and linked to other unhealthy behaviors.
- Reinforced abstinence, like contingency management, effectively reduces substance use.
- Few studies have applied reinforced abstinence to college student smoking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effectiveness of a Brief Abstinence Test (BAT) for promoting smoking abstinence in college students.
- To assess the utility of BAT in a college student population, building on its success with cocaine use reduction.
Main Methods:
- A 3-week intervention was implemented: Baseline 1, BAT, and Baseline 2.
- Participants were college students who smoke.
- Abstinence was assessed using carbon monoxide and urinalysis.
Main Results:
- 42% of participants met abstinence criteria during the BAT phase.
- Carbon monoxide and urinalysis scores significantly decreased from Baseline 1 to the BAT phase.
- Scores did not significantly differ between the BAT phase and Baseline 2.
Conclusions:
- The Brief Abstinence Test (BAT) shows potential for initiating smoking abstinence in college students.
- BAT may be a useful tool in both clinical and research contexts for smoking cessation interventions.
- Further research is warranted to explore the long-term efficacy of BAT for college student smoking.
