Joel's carrying cigarettes article teaches that commencing recovery with the belief that we are stronger than our addiction or that we need cigarettes present to cope is self defeating and a recipe for relapse. Now there's new study evidence that having cigarettes available may actually make cravings more intense. The study concluded that:

"The data suggest that, even under conditions of immediate cigarette availability, deprivation and cue presentations have independent, additive effects on self-reported craving levels in smokers."

The impact of cigarette deprivation and cigarette availability on cue-reactivity in smokers

Addiction. November 17, 2009 Nov 17.

Bailey SR, Goedeker KC, Tiffany ST.

According to the study, "As has been found in previous studies, 24 hours of cigarette deprivation produced generalized increases in craving, and immediate cigarette availability boosted craving reactivity to smoking-related cues."

"Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that deprivation and smoking cue presentations have independent, additive effects on craving levels in smokers."


Like dangling candy in front of a child, why intentionally intensify desire anxieties? Physical withdrawal can be accompanied by an underlying current of anxities.

Still just one rule ... no nicotine today!

John (Gold x10)