randomly assigned to receive either nicotine gum
(n=57) or a herbal gum control (n=60). Subjects were
66% female, 72% white, 12% Native American, and
15% other ethnicity, and all lived in rural areas. Also,
59% of students were from regular high schools, and
41% were from alternative high schools. Subjects
smoked a mean of 10.2 cigarettes per day at baseline
(SD=6.6). In addition, 6% of subjects also reported use
of smokeless tobacco at baseline. An open label, nicotine
substitution gum controlled design was used and is
among the most practical for this context because it
provides 1) a look- and use-alike medication without
the active ingredient thought to be the mechanism of
action (nicotine), and 2) an expected efficacy control.