The Nevada Sagebrush

Nevada researchers hope to make quitting smoking a little easier.  The Valued Choices Program, a group that tests online prevention methods, is currently conducting a study that assists smokers in the difficult process of quitting.

Michael Levin, a graduate student in clinical psychology and the study’s principal investigator, said the program would be free and easy to access for everyone.

“Even if they don’t have time, they can quit smoking,” he said.

Levin said that psychologists involved with the Valued Choices Program tested similar programs in the past and that they delivered promising results.

“We hope these studies will help us to develop a program that helps college students,” he said.

Steven Hayes, the supervisor of the project, said the program teaches participants ways to accept their addiction and tolerate their withdrawal effects at a relatively low cost.

“Nobody goes through this transition without adverse feelings,” he said. “We teach people how to embrace them.”

Hayes said that, in prior online prevention projects, participants stumbled, but not permanently.

Even though the intervention program is online, Hayes did not observe an increased drop-out rate due to the ease of both entering and quitting the program.  He said the program conducted intervention programs in a book form and that the program was still effective, even though a participant could put the book down and walk away.

“We can reach more people, even if they drop out,” Hayes said.

He said people who participate in online-based programs are taught how to deal with their feelings and are less likely to leave.

Gianna Cruet can be reached at news@nevadasagebrush.com.

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