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Mind-Body Medicine Research Group

Frequently Asked Questions
Mindfulness-based Smoking Relapsed Prevention Project

Introduction
What is mindfulness?
What does the project offer?
Why is it important to succeed in living smoke-free?
Stop Smoking Programs In San Francisco
Recovery and Mindfulness Resources in San Francisco

Introduction

Despite advances in treatment of nicotine dependence, many people who quit smoking relapse within one year. Most people who return to smoking say it was due to high levels of stress, or other distressing emotions. Researchers at CPMC Research Institute are developing a new program to improve people's chances of staying smoke-free once they've decided to quit - and to avoid replacing smoking with other unhealthy behaviors - by learning mindfulness-based approaches to dealing with cravings and stress.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness generally means moment-to-moment, non-judgmental awareness of one's present moment experience. The goal of learning mindfulness is to be able to be aware of your experience without necessarily labeling it as good or bad, and to be able to choose your responses rather than reacting out of habit. Mindfulness has been shown in other studies to reduce stress, to improve mood, to improve health, and even to improve immunity and increase brain activity associated with a positive outlook.

What does the project offer?

The purpose of this study is to find out whether participating in a relapse prevention program based on the principles of mindfulness will improve your capacity to tolerate and regulate craving, stress and other distressing emotions, reduce your risk for starting smoking again, and improve your overall emotional well-being. Eligible participants who have recently quit smoking will be asked to attend a free 6-week training program and two individual sessions, and to complete assessments three times so that the research team can evaluate the effectiveness of the classes.

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Why is it important to succeed in living smoke-free?

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that approximately 440,000 people die each year in the US from tobacco use with nearly 1 of every 5 deaths being related to smoking. Cigarettes kill more Americans than alcohol, automobile accidents, suicide, HIV, homicide, and illegal drugs combined. Based on data collected from 1995 to 1999, the CDC estimates that adult male smokers lost an average of 13.2 years of life and female smokers lost 14.5 years of life because of smoking.

Stop Smoking Programs In San Francisco

Please check out San Francisco Tobacco Free ProjectOpens new window

Recovery and Mindfulness Resources in San Francisco

Recovery Resources if you are in need of mental health services and you live in San Francisco

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