For detailed information on the basic tools necessary to effectively identify and assess tobacco use, treat tobacco users willing to quit, tobacco users who are unwilling to quit at the present time, and former tobacco users, click on Clinical Practice Guideline: Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence (Fiore et al., 2000); or for a searchable internet version of the Clinical Practice Guideline: Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence (Fiore et al., 2000).

Brief Interventions

In brief interventions, identifying and assessing tobacco-use status involves separating patients into three treatment categories:

1. Patients who use tobacco and are willing to quit should be treated using the "5 A's" (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange);

2. Patients who use tobacco but are unwilling to quit at the present time should be treated using the "5 R's" motivational intervention (Relevance, Risks, Rewards, Roadblocks, and Repetition);

3. Patients who have recently quit using tobacco should be provided relapse prevention treatment.

Intensive Interventions

Intensive interventions are most effective when combining:

• practical counseling (problem solving/skills training)
  
  
• social support as part of the treatment
  
  
• social support outside the treatment
   

Pharmacotherapies

The Clinical Practice Guideline: Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence (Fiore et al., 2000) recommends that all tobacco users who are trying to quit should be encouraged to use effective medications for smoking cessation except in the presence of special circumstances. For detailed information on pharmacotherapy see Pharmacological Treatments.