The effect of abstinence on cigarette consumption upon the resumption of smoking

Robert J. Wellman, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Joseph R. DiFranza, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Judith A. Savageau, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Sameer Godiwala
Noelle Savageau, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Karen Friedman
Jennifer Hazelton

Abstract

To study the impact of abstinence on the number of cigarettes smoked per day upon the resumption of smoking, adult current smokers completed retrospective surveys in two studies. The consumption rate demonstrated at the resumption of smoking fell with progressively longer abstinence periods out to 6 months, showing little further reduction even after years of abstinence. Subjects in Study 1 (n=848) resumed smoking at 34% of their lifetime peak rate of consumption, accelerating to 58% at 2 weeks, to 64% at 1 month, and to 68% at 6 months. Subjects in Study 2 (n=803) resumed smoking at 48% of their pre-quit peak rate of consumption, accelerating to 69% at 1 week, to 78% at 2 weeks, and to 88% at 6 months. The trajectory of consumption with the resumption of smoking differs from that in novice smokers, suggesting that some impact of nicotine persists during abstinence. The shapes of the observed trajectories suggest that more than one process may be at work. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.