PHYSICAL-DEPENDENCE ON NICOTINE GUM - EFFECT OF DURATION OF USE

This study examined whether longer duration on nicotine gum promoted d ependence on nicotine gum. Subjects (N = 128) answering an advertiseme nt for smoking cessation research and wanting to quit smoking cigarett es were randomly assigned to 1- or 3-month duration of nicotine gum us e. Assessments were made weekly for smoking status (with biochemical v erification) and withdrawal symptoms during and at the end of treatmen t. Follow-up was conducted at 1, 6 and 12 months to provide explorator y data on treatment outcome. The results showed minimal nicotine gum w ithdrawal symptoms after gum cessation with virtually no difference in gum withdrawal between the 1- and 3-month groups. Withdrawal symptoms from the nicotine gum included difficulty with concentration, increas ed variability on a reaction time task, and decreased vigor. The resul ts also showed that continuous use of the gum at 1 year was observed i n 1.5% of subjects and estimated to be as high as 14%. Finally, the 3- month group experienced a 2-fold increase in abstinence compared to th e 1-month group, although this difference was not statistically signif icant. We conclude that there is minimal physical dependence on nicoti ne gum.