Nicotine Dependence Center Residential Program

[NDC_Team]

We are just completing another of our Residential tobacco treatment programs. This is a 8 day program in which patients reside at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for 8 days and participate in education sessions, counseling, and medical visits to stop treat their tobacco dependence.  We provide between 8-10 of these sessions per year.

The program has treated more than 1500 patients since it was first offered in 1994. I have been participating as part of the treatment team for the past 15 years. I would like to share a few brief reflections on this program, as I think it provides some unique perspectives on tobacco addiction and recovery.

First, it is always a privilege that these patients share with us their unique stories of tobacco addiction and their intense desire to be free from it. Sharing their stories with others in the program provides a bond that is an important part of the recovery.  

There are strikingly common themes that we hear in these individual stories.  One is that tobacco use can be an awfully difficult addiction from which to recover.  Another is that the hope patients have to recover provides a foundation to help them succeed.  A third common experience is that group support and a comprehensive plan for managing life without tobacco can transform that hope into a vision of success. 

Through the course of the 8 days we see confidence grow, withdrawal symptoms and cravings decrease, energy increase, and rosy cheeks blossom.   We see recovery begin to happen.

Many of our residential patients join the EX community, so you may hear from them soon.

Michael V. Burke, Ed.D

Program Director and NDC Counselor/ CTTS

[Barbscloud]

How about some data?  What's the success rate?

[sweetplt]

Thank you for what you do at Mayo to help all of us succeed in quitting this addiction...~ Colleen 247 DOF 

[elvan]

I remember wondering years ago why there wasn't an inpatient program for smoking recovery.  I think a part of me was a little jealous when my husband went into inpatient programs for alcoholism.  Not that I would wish that addiction on anyone, I just really felt that one of the things he learned in recovery was that it takes CHANGE...People, Places, and Things.  For him, it was a long journey and had many pitfalls but he always had the fellowship of AA and it saved his life.

Thanks for doing this.

Ellen

[jackrink]

I would recommend this program to anyone who needs support to quit smoking tobacco. I was a patient in February 2017 and found it my solution to getting out of being addicted to drugs (nicotine). I am still tobacco free and about to cross my 6 month line (Aug 17, 2019). I have even given up coffee since cause now it is too strong! Thanks to all of you there at the NDC treatment program, especially to my counselors and teachers Laura, Virginia, Dr. Burke and Dr. McFadden, but also to all of the staff who were so helpful to me. Sincerely, Dr. Jack Rink

[CommunityAdmin]

jackrink wrote:

I would recommend this program to anyone who needs support to quit smoking tobacco. I was a patient in February 2017 and found it my solution to getting out of being addicted to drugs (nicotine). I am still tobacco free and about to cross my 6 month line (Aug 17, 2019). I have even given up coffee since cause now it is too strong! Thanks to all of you there at the NDC treatment program, especially to my counselors and teachers Laura, Virginia, Dr. Burke and Dr. McFadden, but also to all of the staff who were so helpful to me. Sincerely, Dr. Jack Rink

jackrink‌ Thanks for the endorsement and review.  Great to hear that it was a good experience for you. MikeBurke‌

Mark
EX Community Manager

[MikeBurke]

Thanks for the question about outcomes Barbscloud.  Smoking abstinence at 6 months is about 52%, despite the fact that the patients are usually more addicted than most but a couple of measures.  If you're interested in more about how we assess outcomes and the people who come to the program, here is a link to a publication about the program. Residential treatment outcomes paper

[Giulia]

Interesting study from 17 years ago.  I wonder if you did a current one if the percentages would still be the same.  

[Compared with outpatients, residential patients were older, more often separated or divorced, more educated, and more often previously treated for alcoholism or depression (Table 1). In addition, residential patients smoked significantly more cigarettes per day and had more severe nicotine dependence as measured by the FTND score (6.9±2.0 for residential patients vs 5.1±2.3 for outpatients; P<.001). Moreover, they were significantly more likely to be in the preparation or action stage of readiness and believed that it was extremely important to stop smoking.* Furthermore, residential patients were less likely to have other smokers in their household compared with outpatients.]

(*emphasis mine)   That's what all successful quitters need to be - in a "preparation" and "action stage of readiness."  (Gonna steal that "action stage of readiness" line!)  Fascinating that those who had a more severe nicotine dependence were more able to maintain a longer abstinence rate - through residential counselling - rather than those with less dependence on nicotine as outpatients.  I would have thought the more nicotine dependent one was the less success they'd have, no matter the treatment arm.

.The reasons for the apparent efficacy of residential treatment are many. A clear dose-response relationship exists between the amount of direct contact in behavioral therapy and long-term smoking abstinence.⁴ Patients in our residential program undergo an average of 12 hours of group and individual face-to-face counseling as well as time in educational discussions and skills training with counseling and medical staff. Previous research in a consecutive sample of our residential patients has also shown improvement in a number of psychosocial variables that may affect the ability to maintain long-term smoking abstinence.

Would be interesting to do follow-up studies on those who have gone to EX reunions to see how the abstinence rates from those face-to-face meetings compare to those who haven't gone to a reunion.  Just kidding.  I do think, however, that those reunions help solidify quits.  

Thanks for that outcome paper link Dr. Burke.

[Giulia]

Good going, Dr. Jack on your almost six months!  I'm just a little confused.  You said you were a patient at Mayo in February 2017.  Do mean 2019?  That would make it six months to where we are now in August.  Or was that a different quit?  jackrink‌

[Ladybug--7-3-12]

Congrats on being 6 Months Smoke Free!  Keep it up!

I'm curious though.  You state you completed the program in Feb. 2017.  Did it take you TWO YEARS to quit smoking afterwards or is it a typo and you actually quit smoking in Feb 2019 (not 2017)?  That's what I'm hoping.  Best Wishes.

[Ladybug--7-3-12]

Oops.  Just now reading responses & see it was already asked for clarification.  Sorry.

[jackrink]

Hi Giulia, yes, I meant 2019! Thanks for the correction!

Jack Rink

jackrink77@gmail.com

[jackrink]

Hi Ladybug, my mistake quit date 2/17/2019! Duh! It feels like 2 years and 6 months though, I hardly ever think about it.

Bye!

Jack Rink

jackrink77@gmail.com

[Giulia]

jackrink‌  Phew!  I was thinking "so much for the Mayo residential 52% six-month stat rate!"  lol  Glad is was just a typo!  Hang out with us.  It's almost as good as face-to-face.

[Strudel]

Congrats to you Jack on your wonderful quit! 

[jackrink]

Thanks, Strudel!

Jack Rink

jackrink77@gmail.com

[Barbscloud]

Yes, this study is somewhat dated.   But $5,000 for residential treatment.  Is that still the cost?  Who can afford that?

[jackrink]

Hi Barbscloud, I paid the $5500 after taking a deep breath! I just felt it was worth it, and my insurance did not pay very much at all (maybe only $150 out of the total). Plus I had to spend $800 to fly up there. BUT in my humble optionion, it is easy to rationalize, because you will get that back quickly by not smoking (within the first three years for a two pack a day smoker). Also, the fact that I spent the money is a HUGE help in pushing back thoughts of not starting again. I can tell you from experience. Best, Jack

Jack Rink

jackrink77@gmail.com

[Barbscloud]

That's true.   I'm glad that it worked for you and congrats on almost 6 months. Hope you'll continue with the Ex community.

Barb

[Deborah56537]

You all are very wonderful, from the time you give of yourself to the heart and caring you give each and every person you touch. Thank you very much for caring about me. Miss you all. We'll have to stay in contact this way though because I'm an ex smoker now.

[gregp136]

It seems to me that the success rate would be higher due to the added motivation of taking 10 days out of your life, and $5000.  Needs a lot more motivation than logging into a website a few times a day.

[anaussiemom]

I could you a a flight to the rehab anyone wanna donate ?