Term Paper on "Tobacco Cessation"

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6. Please describe how intensely you experienced external temptations.

7. How committed are you to following a smoking cessation program?

Treatment Plan Development

Because the patient describes two specific types of barriers to the success of her prior smoking cessation attempts, this treatment plan focuses on each of those barriers separately. More specifically, this treatment plan will consist of an entirely different approach to those two types of barriers. In that regard, physiological symptoms of nicotine withdrawal will be addressed in a manner consistent with classical understanding of physical manifestations of substance addiction emphasizing gradual reduction of dosage.

The physical addiction-based component of this treatment plan will consist of allowing the patient to self-administer the smallest doses of nicotine to reduce acute symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. In the early phases of the program, the patient will be allowed to smoke a limited number of cigarettes as necessary to treat acute physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. In the latter stages, this treatment plan calls for the transition from smoking cigarettes for that limited purpose to other forms of nicotine administration such as trans-dermal patches and orally-administered nicotine.

The behavior-based component of this treatment plan will consist of educating the patient to understand the behavioral cues responsible for undermining her previous smoking cessation attempts. A large aspect of that objective will involve educating the patient to recognize and distinguish bona-fide signs of physical addiction and nicotine withdrawal from smoking impulses attributable to behavioral cues and other non-physical triggers. The patient will be prohibited from smoking anytime the impulse is a function of behavioral cues and triggers not directly attributable to acute physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.

There will also be a behavioral aspect to the physical addiction-based component of this treatment plan. Specifically, this program requires the patient to completely dissociate any elements of ritual, comfort, of socializing that have previously been associated with her smoking. The strategy for this component will consist of a commitment never to smoke in any circumstance where it is enjoyable or relaxing or part of any social ritual. In addition, the limited amount of smoking authorized for the sole purpose of addressing actual nicotine withdrawal symptoms will required to… READ MORE