Smoking Relapse Causes, Prevention and Recovery - Public Health in the 21st Century Series

Smoking relapse can be defined as the resumption of smoking at any time after the quit date so a relapse prevention intervention can not clearly be distinct from an extended cessation programme. Although entirely preventable, smoking is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Patients in certain socioeconomic and demographic groups are uniquely vulnerable to tobacco dependence for many reasons. In this book, the authors evaluate some relapse prevention interventions. Special interest is shown for certain subpopulations such as pregnant women or respiratory patients. Furthermore, the authors present an evidence-based approach for providers that helps identify the most at-risk patients. The authors then offer specific clinical strategies for approaching tobacco cessation which are proven to be the most effective in overcoming these systematic barriers. A number of health policy recommendations are also proposed which can assist with breaking down barriers to care for each patient group and result in more effective cessation programs on the population level. In addition, it has been found that cigarette smoking is associated with an increased risk of suicide.