Cigarette Smoking

Frank L. Collins Jr. & Theodore L. Wagener

Cigarette smoking is a behavioral risk factor for disease and one that is amenable to intervention by counseling psychologists. Clients who seek help for emotional and behavioral problems are more likely than others to be cigarette smokers, and counseling psychologists should become familiar with treatment guidelines that exist. All smokers should be encouraged to quit, and brief interventions are effective for motivating smokers to consider quitting. More intensive treatment has been shown to be effective, but such intervention may require specialized training. Smoking is a chronic condition, and relapse is common. This entry provides statistics and information about smoking as well as guidelines for counseling the smoker. Cigarette smoking increases risk for disease, and cessation can reverse this risk. It is estimated that male smokers lose an average of 13.2 years of life and female smokers lose 14.5 years due to smoking. However, cessation can minimize these health risks. Individuals ...

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