Study of Smoking Abstinence

Study Summary

Background: \- Relapse following cigarette abstinence remains a common problem for smokers who are attempting to quit. Most research has focused on the acute withdrawal phase that occurs within the first 48 hours to 1 week after quitting; however, more information is needed on the experiences of smokers in longer durations of abstinence. Objectives: * To study the effects of long-term smoking abstinence. * To study the effects of cigarette-related cues on craving in longer periods of smoking abstinence. Eligibility: \- Individuals at least 18 years of age who are current smokers (at least 10 cigarettes per day) and who want to quit but are not currently attempting to quit. Design: * Participants will be randomly assigned to abstain from all nicotine use for 7, 14, or 35 days. A fourth group of participants will also abstain for 35 days, but will undergo more testing sessions than the other groups. * All participants will have an initial orientation session in which they will complete questionnaires about their smoking habits and will respond to smoking-related cues to provide information about their cravings. * Participants will visit the clinic daily during their abstinence period, and provide urine and breath samples to test for tobacco use. Participants will receive compensation for every day that they do not use tobacco. * On the end day of the abstinence period, participants will return to the clinic, provide urine and breath samples, and undergo testing of their responses to smoking-related cues. Participants in the fourth group will have these tests on Days 7, 14, and 35 of abstinence; other participants will have the tests only once, at the end of their abstinence period. * After the required abstinence period, participants will enter a 5-day step-down period. They will continue to report to the clinic for breath and urine testing, and they will receive payments for abstinence that decrease in value across days. * After the step-down period, for the f