Reviews findings and theoretical implications of studies concerned with initiation, maintenance, and therapy of cigarette smoking in children and adults. The following conclusions are offered: (a) Recent increases in success rates may be due to changes in the social environment that multiply the action of previously unsuccessful procedures, (b) current interventions are based on communication and behavioral models that ignore features unique to smoking, (c) methodological refinements of current interventions are unlikely to increase success rates significantly, (d) prevention studies should be directed toward critical steps in the developmental history of smoking (e.g., preventing initial attempts and retarding regular usage), and (e) studies of cessation and withdrawal must consider findings and theories of nicotine dependence. Also discussed are the development of craving and its elimination. (9 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)