Nicotine Dependence Center in Minnesota

Residential Treatment Program
(Rochester)

The eight-day residential treatment program at the Mayo Nicotine Dependence Center in Rochester, Minn., provides the most intensive treatment available for smoking cessation. More than 900 people have been treated in the program since it began in 1992.

The residential program is held in the Colonial Building on the Mayo Clinic campus.
See slide show.

The residential program offers:

• Protected, tobacco-free setting
• Individual and group counseling
• Medications to relieve withdrawal
• Physician supervision
• Long-term follow-up to prevent relapse

The program lasts eight days, from Friday to Friday. Sessions are kept small, with a maximum of 10 patients, to ensure that each individual's needs are met.

See program dates.

Daily educational sessions cover topics such as stress management and medical effects of smoking.

Patients have group therapy daily and individual therapy at least four times during the week. Each patient is assigned a primary counselor who provides therapy and follow-up care.

Daily educational sessions cover information on stress management, family dynamics in recovery, relapse prevention, medical effects of smoking, grief and loss, respiratory therapy and wellness. The program is based on principles of addiction therapy and behavioral change.

There are daily wellness activities, and supervised "off-unit" activities. The program is staffed 24 hours a day, and patients describe feeling safe, with ongoing supervision keeping them from having that "one cigarette." Patients are asked to monitor the improvement in their lung health daily with carbon monoxide testing.

Nicotine Dependence Center staff follow up regularly with all participants to help prevent relapse. About 50 percent of participants report being smoke free a year after completing the program.

A Typical Day

7:30 - Breakfast/Rounds with the Treatment Staff
9:00 - Group Session: Relapse Prevention
10:15 - Break
10:30 - Group Therapy
Noon - Lunch
1:00 - Group Session: Pharmacology of Nicotine Addiction
2:00 - Individual Counseling
4:00 - Group Session: Stress Management
5:00 - Dinner
6:30 - Wellness Coaching

For more information or to register,
e-mail stopsmoking@mayo.edu or
call toll free 1-800-344-5984.