Treating Low-Income Smokers in the Hospital Emergency Department

This study will test the effectiveness of an Emergency Department (ED) initiated tobacco intervention which includes counseling and medication. Our proposed intervention combines a Brief Negotiated Interview (BNI) with initiation of nicotine patch and gum in the ED, as well as a faxed referral to the state's Smokers' Quitline. A 6 week supply of nicotine patches and nicotine gum are provided to subjects in the intervention arm. Subjects randomized to the control arm will receive a brochure from the state's Smokers' Quitline only. The primary hypothesis is that the intervention will be superior to the control condition in reducing self-reported and biochemically verified 7-day tobacco abstinence at 3 months.