Participants were 1504 smokers (58% female, 83% Caucasian) who agreed to participate in a 3-year smoking cessation (Year 1) and health outcomes study (Years 2 and 3) conducted in Madison and Milwaukee, WI (principal investigator: Timothy Baker, Ph.D.). Adult smokers were recruited via TV, radio and newspaper advertisements, flyers, earned media including press conferences, and TV and radio news interviews from January, 2005 to June, 2007. Inclusion criteria included smoking greater than nine cigarettes per day on average for at least the past 6 months, having an alveolar carbon monoxide (CO) level greater than 9, and being motivated to quit smoking. Exclusion criteria included using any form of tobacco other than cigarettes, currently taking bupropion, or having a current psychosis or schizophrenia diagnosis. In addition, participants were excluded if they had medical contraindications for any of the study medications, including high alcohol consumption (six drinks per day on 6 or 7 days of the week), a history of seizure, high blood pressure (> 160/100), bipolar disorder, an eating disorder, a recent cardiac event, or allergies to any of the medications.
