. The median 6-
month point prevalence abstinence rate was 13.2%. Point preva- lence rates in this study were quite comparable. Collapsing across groups, 6-month point prevalence abstinence for all sub- jects in this study counting missing subjects as smoking was 11.2%. Because we recruited early stage smokers, had a heavy- smoking group (M = 27 cigarettes per day), and offered mini- mal interventions, these figures appear comparable to other studies. However, the dramatic stage differences in rates sup- ports the contention that variation in cessation rates among programs and studies may have more to do with differences in smoker selection than in treatment methods themselves (Cohen etal., 1989). The stages of change provide a substantial challenge for inter- vention development. Intensity, duration and type of interven- tion should be responsive to the stage of change of the client. Later stage subjects may benefit from more intense, shorter, action-oriented types of interventions. Subjects earlier in the process of change may need less intense and more extensive types of programs to be able to follow them through a quitting cycle and move them to successful action. It is clear that once