3.7. Smoking cessation medication

All participants receive the same information about the risks and benefits of cessation medication use. Participants in the short duration arm are offered one 2-week kit. Participants in the long duration arm are offered one 4-week kit and are eligible for one additional 4-week refill, using a tapering dose schedule for a total NRT duration of 8 weeks. Participants in both short and long arms receive NRT by mail and at no cost.

At the first counseling session, the TTS promotes medication use, describes all FDA-approved options, assesses appropriateness of using NRT, and offers free NRT patches to smokers without contraindication. Study medication is mailed to the participant with an instruction sheet for usage. NRT dose is determined by daily cigarette use: 21 mg/d patch for ≥10 cig/day, 14 mg/d or 7 mg/d patch <10 cig/day. The TTS also assists smokers who choose other medications to obtain prescriptions from their clinicians. Although use of medication is promoted, it is not required for study participation. Participants are not required to use NRT or may request NRT in the quantity assigned at subsequent sessions.