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New ways to quit smoking: retraining of automatic smoking processes

Tobacco addiction is still one of the most common substance use disorders in Germany. Although negative consequences of smoking are well known and many smokers have the desire to quit smoking, relapse rates are high even after successful therapy. One reason for this may be that not only conscious or rational aspects play a role in smoking, but that automatic processes also influence behaviour to a large extent. The ANTARES project (Broad-based substance dependence therapy in the digital society using virtual reality-based systems) investigates new ways to quit smoking by using various new technologies (e.g. virtual reality, smartphone applications) in addition to conventional methods to change automatic processes associated with smoking and thus support smokers on their way to abstinence.