Mindfulness App Helps Smokers Quit | Yale Research

Research from Yale's Therapeutic Neuroscience Clinic has led to the development of Craving to Quit, a mindfulness-based smoking cessation app that's twice as effective as traditional programs like the American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking.

The Science Behind Craving to Quit

Dr. Judson Brewer, former Yale medical director and now research director at UMass Medical School's Center for Mindfulness, explains the app's development:

• Based on clinical research on mindfulness for addiction treatment
• Originally tested with alcohol and cocaine dependence
• Adapted for smoking, which Brewer calls "the hardest addiction to quit"

How the App Works

The 21-day program uses these key mindfulness techniques:

1. Noting practice: Tracking cravings and bodily sensations
2. Body scans: Becoming aware of physical craving signals
3. R.A.I.N. method:
   • Recognize cravings
   • Allow them to exist
   • Investigate the feelings
   • Note moment-to-moment experiences
4. Associative learning: Identifying smoking triggers

Why Mindfulness Works for Smoking Cessation

• Reduces self-judgment common in quitting attempts
• Helps manage stress that leads to smoking
• Builds awareness of smoking triggers
• Includes peer support through online community

Proven Results

Key findings from Yale's research:

• Twice as effective as traditional programs
• Most successful participants used noting practice frequently
• Combines app with supportive community (modeled after AA)

"Mindfulness works, but only if you do it. All we know is we have twice the efficacy rate," says Dr. Brewer.

Getting Started with Craving to Quit

The program includes:

• Daily mindfulness exercises
• Animated instructional content
• 24/7 access to peer support community
• Bonus content after completing 21 days

For those struggling to quit smoking, this research-backed mindfulness approach offers a scientifically validated alternative to traditional methods.