The Northwest Smokeless Tobacco Study is the largest evaluation to date of methods for quitting smokeless tobacco (snuff and chewing tobacco). In this four-year study (1996-2000), more than 1,500 smokeless tobacco users received self-help cessation materials, and more than 20% had successfully quit a year later.

The originally funded study was a randomized trial comparing two levels of quitting intervention: a 60-page quitting guide vs. an assisted self-help program that included the guide, an accompanying videotape, and two supportive phone calls from smokeless tobacco cessation counselors.

After we had met our recruitment goal of more than 1,000 participants in five Northwest states, we expanded the study in a third type of program: More than 500 chewers recruited from throughout the United States received the quitting manual and video (together, and without phone counseling).

We are now conducting long-term follow-up with participants from both of these studies to learn more about the processes of cessation, relapse, and renewed efforts to quit.

The project also developed intervention materials tailored for Indian chewers: a new version of the quitting manual, and a videotape filmed on the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon.

To read more about these elements of the study, to review our findings, to learn more about our research team, and to obtain the quitting materials developed in the study, please follow the links to your left.