ABSTRACT
More than six million deaths worldwide can be attributed to cigarette smoking each year. 1 In high-income countries like the United States, significant strides have been made to reduce the smoking prevalence among certain segments of the population, but there are some areas where gains have been minimal. One area of particular importance that will likely be helpful in reducing smoking rates is the recent change to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), 2 which added “Tobacco Use Disorder” as a diagnosis in 2013. This properly aligned cigarette smoking with other substance use disorders, given that those who regularly smoke cigarettes experience symptoms similar to those who regularly use other drugs of abuse. Moreover, the diagnosis should help to accurately identify those who are most at risk for negative consequences from use, identify those who need active intervention, and inform treatment recommendations, such as what type or dose of treatment is needed. 3 Hence, the purpose of this chapter is to:
Provide a brief overview of the health consequences and prevalence of cigarette smoking in the United States.
Conduct a review of the literature on key behavioral approaches and strategies that have been used to enhance smoking cessation.
Highlight the research done in various settings and across different populations of vulnerable and at-risk smokers.
Summarize some of the most effective treatments and promising new research initiatives that are currently underway.
