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Quitting Smoking: Different Solutions for Different People

"Tobacco cessation is no longer a one-size-fits-all approach," says Paul M. Cinciripini, a professor at the University of Texas' M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. "We now know various groups have specific concerns and may be motivated to respond by different tobacco cessation programs and treatments."

Cinciripini gives examples of groups as diverse as pregnant women, teenagers, Spanish-speaking individuals and college students, all of which are targeted for different programs by the cancer center.

For example, Project SUCCESS includes offering health information about an individual's respiratory symptoms, lung function and carbon monoxide level to help college students quit smoking. Currently under way at the University of Houston, the project uses nicotine-replacement therapy along with both face-to-face and Internet-based counseling sessions to help students break their tobacco addiction.