Working Inside for Smoking Elimination

Quitting smoking reduces the risks of developing smoking related illnesses as well as the
morbidity and mortality associated with these illnesses. In 2006 approximately 44.5 million
American adults smoked an overall prevalence of 20.8%. The prevalence is much higher among
incarcerated populations and approximately 80% of the women in RI smoked prior to
incarceration. This proposal is designed to evaluate an intervention utilizing Motivational
Interviewing (MI) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to provide the skills necessary to
maintain smoking abstinence after release. MI utilizes specific techniques for providing
feedback on an individual's risk and self efficacy. CBT provides the skills necessary to
maintain abstinence after release. The investigators plan to recruit 350 men and women from
the Rhode Island Department of Corrections and randomize them to two interventions: an
Intentional Behavioral Intervention (IBI) with 6 sessions of in jail MI/CBT and two post
release booster sessions compared to CONcise Tapes Reviewing Obstacles to healthy Living
(CONTROL) group which will receive a smoking cessation pamphlet and watch a series of six
weekly 30-45 minutes general wellness videos.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Age 18 and older

- Daily smokers over the past 30 non-institutionalized days (prior to Incarceration)

- Expected place of residence after release within 15 miles of follow-up site

- Agree to participate in the study protocol and be available within one month post
release

- Speak English

- Provides at least two pieces of locator information

- Scheduled to be released within eight weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

- Inability to give informed consent secondary to organic brain function, not having
own legal guardianship, or active psychosis or otherwise not able to participate in
the intervention or assessments (deaf, blind, or impaired communication skills that
impair ability to participate in computerized assessment or counseling)

- Housed in a segregation unit