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 offers:
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.
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 diet and exercise. The program is based on principles of addiction therapy and behavioral change.
There are daily exercise sessions, 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 45 percent of participants report being smoke free a year after completing the program.
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 - Group Exercise Session
For more information or to register,
e-mail stopsmoking@mayo.edu or
call (800) 344-5984.
"Mayo's residential program is the reason I'm alive today," says Tom DiDuca.
Read Tom's story.
Read all patient stories.
Download Residential Program preregistration form
Read NWA World Traveler article on Mayo's residential program.
Slide show on residential program