Frequently Asked Questions

The Smoking Cessation App is a comprehensive mobile application designed to help users quit smoking through personalized cessation plans and AI-powered support. The app begins with an assessment questionnaire to understand your smoking habits, previous quit attempts, and personal circumstances. Based on this information, it generates a tailored cessation plan specific to your needs.

The app features a Gemini 2.5 Pro-powered chat interface that provides emotional support, practical advice, and evidence-based strategies to help you through withdrawal symptoms and cravings. It also includes progress tracking tools, achievement milestones, and educational resources about the benefits of quitting smoking.

The Smoking Cessation App offers both free and premium versions. The free version includes the initial assessment, a basic personalized plan, limited AI chat support, and essential progress tracking features. The premium version provides an enhanced experience with unlimited AI chat support, advanced progress analytics, additional coping strategies, and exclusive educational content.

We believe in making smoking cessation support accessible to everyone, which is why our free version contains all the essential tools needed to start your quit journey. Premium features are designed to provide additional support and motivation for those who want an enhanced experience.

The Smoking Cessation App is currently available on Android devices. We are actively developing versions for iOS and web platforms to make the app accessible to more users. The iOS version will include special features like HealthKit integration and Apple Watch support, while the web version will function as a Progressive Web App (PWA) with offline capabilities.

Our cross-platform strategy ensures that users will be able to access their personalized cessation plans and progress data across all their devices, with data synchronization between platforms. For more details on our expansion plans, please see our Cross-Platform Expansion documentation.

The Smoking Cessation App is built on evidence-based approaches to smoking cessation, including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and acceptance and commitment therapy. Research shows that personalized cessation plans combined with ongoing support significantly increase quit success rates compared to unassisted quit attempts.

While individual results vary, our preliminary user data shows that app users are 2-3 times more likely to maintain a smoke-free status after 30 days compared to those using non-personalized methods. The app's effectiveness stems from its combination of personalization, AI-powered support that adapts to your specific challenges, and comprehensive progress tracking that reinforces motivation.

For more information on the scientific foundation of our approach, please visit our Science & Research page.

Creating an account is simple and takes just a few minutes. After downloading the app from the Google Play Store, open it and tap "Get Started" on the welcome screen. You'll be prompted to create an account using your email address or by signing in with Google or Facebook. We recommend using an email that you check regularly, as we'll send important notifications and recovery information to this address.

After creating your account, you'll be guided through the initial assessment questionnaire, which is essential for generating your personalized cessation plan. You can complete the assessment in one sitting (approximately 10-15 minutes) or save your progress and return later.

The initial assessment gathers comprehensive information about your smoking habits and personal circumstances to create a truly personalized cessation plan. The questionnaire includes questions about:

- Basic smoking habits (cigarettes per day, years of smoking, time to first cigarette)
- Previous quit attempts and methods tried
- Social and environmental factors (smokers in your life, common smoking locations)
- Personal triggers for smoking
- Motivation level and reasons for quitting
- Health conditions and lifestyle factors
- Preferences for support types and cessation aids

All information you provide is kept confidential and is used solely to generate your personalized plan and provide relevant support through the AI chat feature. You can update your information at any time if your circumstances change.

Yes, you can change your quit date at any time. We understand that life circumstances can change, and flexibility is important for successful smoking cessation. To change your quit date, go to the "My Plan" section of the app and tap on "Quit Date" or "Edit Plan." Select your new quit date and confirm the change.

When you change your quit date, the app will automatically adjust your cessation plan timeline, including preparation activities and milestone dates. The AI chat support will also adapt to your new timeline, providing relevant guidance based on your updated quit date.

While flexibility is important, research shows that setting a specific quit date and committing to it increases success rates. If you find yourself repeatedly postponing your quit date, consider discussing this with the AI chat support, which can help address concerns or barriers you might be experiencing.

Your personalized cessation plan is created through a sophisticated algorithm that analyzes your responses to the initial assessment questionnaire. The algorithm considers multiple factors including your nicotine dependence level (calculated from cigarettes per day, time to first cigarette, and years smoking), previous quit attempts, personal triggers, social environment, health conditions, and preferences for support.

The plan generator uses evidence-based approaches to smoking cessation, drawing from clinical guidelines and research on effective cessation strategies. It creates a comprehensive plan that includes:

- A preparation phase with specific activities before your quit date
- Recommendations for pharmacological support if appropriate
- Personalized coping strategies for your specific triggers
- A timeline with milestones and achievement targets
- Daily activities and challenges to build smoke-free habits
- Educational content tailored to your needs and interests

Your plan is not static—it evolves based on your progress, feedback, and changing circumstances. The app continuously refines your plan to provide the most relevant support throughout your quit journey.

Yes, you can modify various aspects of your cessation plan to better suit your preferences and needs. While the initial plan is generated based on your assessment responses, we understand that you may want to adjust certain elements as you progress in your quit journey.

To modify your plan, go to the "My Plan" section and tap "Edit Plan" or the edit icon next to specific plan components. You can adjust elements such as:

- Quit approach (cold turkey vs. gradual reduction)
- Daily activities and challenges
- Reminder frequency and timing
- Support preferences (pharmacotherapy, behavioral techniques)
- Focus areas (e.g., stress management, weight management)

When you make changes to your plan, the app will recalibrate other elements to ensure a coherent and effective approach. The AI chat support will also be informed of these changes to provide relevant guidance aligned with your modified plan.

The app may suggest considering FDA-approved smoking cessation medications or nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products as part of your personalized plan, based on your assessment responses and particularly your nicotine dependence level. These suggestions are based on clinical guidelines that show combining behavioral support with pharmacotherapy can significantly increase quit success rates.

The app provides educational information about different options including:

- Nicotine replacement therapy (patches, gum, lozenges, inhalers, nasal spray)
- Non-nicotine prescription medications (varenicline, bupropion)
- Combination approaches

However, it's important to note that the app does not prescribe medications. Any suggestions regarding pharmacotherapy are meant to be discussed with your healthcare provider, who can provide personalized medical advice and prescriptions if appropriate. The app includes guidance on how to have productive conversations with your healthcare provider about smoking cessation support.

If you indicate in your assessment that you're already using NRT or medications, the app will incorporate this into your plan and provide relevant support for using these aids effectively.

The AI chat support is powered by Gemini 2.5 Pro, an advanced large language model that provides personalized, context-aware support throughout your quit journey. The chat system has been specifically trained on smoking cessation research, clinical guidelines, and behavioral support techniques to provide evidence-based guidance.

When you interact with the chat, the AI has access to several important contextual elements:

- Your personalized cessation plan details
- Your current stage in the quit process (preparation, early quit, maintenance)
- Your progress data and recent challenges
- Your personal triggers and coping strategies
- Common withdrawal symptoms and their timeline

This contextual understanding allows the AI to provide responses that are relevant to your specific situation rather than generic advice. The chat support can help with immediate cravings, answer questions about withdrawal symptoms, provide motivation during difficult moments, suggest coping strategies for specific triggers, and celebrate your achievements.

The chat interface is bidirectional, meaning you can initiate conversations whenever you need support, and the AI may also proactively check in with you at key points in your quit journey or when it detects potential risk periods based on your usage patterns and reported challenges.

The free version of the app includes limited access to the AI chat support, with a set number of interactions per day. This provides essential support for managing cravings and answering basic questions about your quit journey.

The premium version offers unlimited access to the AI chat support, allowing you to engage with the chat feature as often as needed throughout your quit journey. This is particularly valuable during the early days of quitting when cravings and withdrawal symptoms are most intense and frequent support may be needed.

Research shows that readily available support during critical moments can significantly increase quit success rates, which is why we've designed the chat feature to be accessible whenever you need it. The AI is available 24/7, providing support during evenings, weekends, and other times when human support might not be available.

Even with the free version's limitations, we ensure that users have access to emergency support during intense cravings or difficult situations, regardless of their daily interaction limit.

While the AI chat provides evidence-based support for smoking cessation, it is designed to complement rather than replace professional counseling or medical advice. The AI chat offers several advantages including 24/7 availability, immediate responses during cravings, and personalized support based on your cessation plan and progress data.

However, there are important limitations to be aware of:

- The AI cannot diagnose or treat medical conditions
- It cannot prescribe medications or adjust medication dosages
- It may not fully address complex psychological factors or co-occurring mental health conditions
- It cannot provide the human connection and empathy that comes from in-person counseling

For many users, the most effective approach combines the app's AI support with some form of professional guidance, such as counseling through a quitline, cessation program, or healthcare provider. The app includes a resource directory to help you find professional support options in your area, and the AI can provide guidance on how to make the most of these professional services.

If you're experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, significant emotional distress, or other health concerns during your quit attempt, we strongly recommend consulting with a healthcare professional.

The app tracks a comprehensive set of progress metrics to help you visualize your achievements and stay motivated throughout your quit journey. The core metrics include:

Health Metrics:

- Smoke-free days counter
- Health improvement timeline based on scientific research
- Withdrawal symptom intensity tracking
- Breathing capacity improvement estimation
- Heart rate and blood pressure normalization timeline

Behavioral Metrics:

- Craving frequency and intensity patterns
- Trigger exposure and management success
- Coping strategy effectiveness ratings
- Mood and stress level tracking
- Sleep quality improvements

Achievement Metrics:

- Cigarettes not smoked counter
- Money saved calculator (customizable to your local cigarette prices)
- Time reclaimed visualization (based on average smoking session duration)
- Achievement badges and milestone celebrations
- Streak maintenance statistics

The premium version offers additional advanced analytics including pattern recognition for high-risk situations, predictive modeling for craving intensity, and comparative statistics showing your progress relative to other users with similar profiles.

All metrics are presented through intuitive visualizations in the Progress Dashboard, making it easy to see how far you've come and the benefits you've gained from quitting smoking.

We understand that slips and relapses can be part of the quitting process, and the app is designed to help you recover and continue your quit journey rather than feeling discouraged. To log a slip (smoking one or a few cigarettes) or a relapse (returning to regular smoking), go to the "Progress" section and tap "Log Event" or use the quick action button on the dashboard.

When logging a slip or relapse, you'll be asked to provide some context:

- When it occurred
- How many cigarettes were smoked
- The situation or trigger that led to smoking
- Your emotional state at the time
- Whether any coping strategies were attempted

This information helps the app provide targeted support for similar situations in the future. After logging a slip, the app will offer immediate supportive guidance to help you get back on track, including specific coping strategies for the trigger you identified.

If you log a full relapse, the app will guide you through a "Recommitment Process" that includes:

- A non-judgmental analysis of factors that contributed to the relapse
- Adjustments to your cessation plan based on what you've learned
- Setting a new quit date if appropriate
- Enhanced support for the identified challenge areas

Remember that many successful quitters have experienced slips or relapses before achieving long-term abstinence. The app is designed to help you learn from these experiences and strengthen your quit attempt.

Yes, you can export your progress data from the app for personal records or to share with healthcare providers. To export your data, go to the "Progress" section, tap the menu icon (three dots), and select "Export Data." You can choose from several export formats including PDF reports, CSV files for spreadsheet analysis, and JSON format for data portability.

The export options include:

- Summary Report: A concise overview of key metrics and achievements
- Detailed Progress Report: Comprehensive data including daily tracking metrics
- Healthcare Provider Report: Formatted specifically for medical professionals
- Raw Data Export: Complete dataset for personal analysis

You can select date ranges for your export and choose which metrics to include. The exported data can be saved to your device, shared via email, or directly sent to cloud storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox.

The premium version offers additional export features including customizable report templates, automated weekly or monthly reports sent to your email, and integration with health apps through standard health data formats.

All exports are generated locally on your device to maintain data privacy. If you're sharing reports with healthcare providers, the app includes guidance on which report types are most useful for different types of appointments.

Keeping your app updated ensures you have access to the latest features, improvements, and security updates. The Smoking Cessation App updates automatically through the Google Play Store by default, but you can also manually check for updates.

To manually update the app:

1. Open the Google Play Store on your device
2. Tap on your profile icon in the top right corner
3. Select "Manage apps & device"
4. Look for "Updates available" and check if the Smoking Cessation App is listed
5. If an update is available, tap "Update" next to the app name

If you've disabled automatic updates, we recommend enabling them specifically for the Smoking Cessation App to ensure you always have the latest version. You can do this by going to the app's page in the Play Store, tapping the three-dot menu, and selecting "Enable auto-update."

After major updates, you may see a "What's New" screen highlighting new features and improvements. We recommend reviewing this information to take full advantage of the latest capabilities.

If you encounter any issues after updating, please contact our support team at support@smokingcessationapp.com.

If you experience crashes or freezing issues with the app, here are the recommended troubleshooting steps:

Immediate Steps:

1. Force close the app and restart it
2. Restart your device completely
3. Check if an app update is available in the Google Play Store

If the problem persists:

1. Clear the app cache (Settings > Apps > Smoking Cessation App > Storage > Clear Cache)
2. Ensure your device has sufficient storage space available
3. Check that your device's operating system is up to date
4. Verify that you have a stable internet connection

Advanced troubleshooting:

1. Uninstall and reinstall the app (your data will be preserved if you've created an account)
2. Check if the issue occurs in battery saver mode or with limited permissions
3. Try logging in on a different device if available

If none of these steps resolve the issue, please contact our technical support team with the following information:

- Your device model and Android version
- App version (found in Settings > About)
- Detailed description of when and how the crash occurs
- Any error messages displayed
- Steps you've already taken to troubleshoot

You can reach our support team at support@smokingcessationapp.com or through the "Report a Problem" option in the app's settings menu.

Yes, all your app data will transfer to a new phone as long as you've created an account and signed in. The app uses cloud synchronization to store your profile, cessation plan, progress data, and chat history securely on our servers.

To transfer your data to a new phone:

1. Install the Smoking Cessation App on your new device from the Google Play Store
2. Open the app and tap "Sign In" instead of "Get Started"
3. Sign in using the same email address and password (or the same social login method) that you used on your previous device
4. Wait for the app to download and synchronize your data (this may take a few minutes depending on your internet connection)

After signing in, all your data should be available on the new device, including your personalized plan, progress history, achievements, and chat conversations. The app will also restore your preferences and notification settings.

If you notice any missing data after transferring to a new device, try these steps:

1. Ensure both devices have been connected to the internet to complete synchronization
2. Check that you're signed in with the correct account
3. Go to Settings > Account > Sync Data to manually trigger a synchronization
4. Restart the app on your new device

If you continue to experience issues with data transfer, please contact our support team for assistance.

Protecting your personal information is a top priority for us. The Smoking Cessation App implements multiple layers of security and privacy protection:

Data Encryption:

- All data is encrypted during transmission using TLS/SSL protocols
- Sensitive data is encrypted at rest using AES-256 encryption
- Authentication credentials are never stored in plain text

Access Controls:

- Your account is protected by your password and/or biometric authentication if enabled
- You can enable two-factor authentication for additional security
- Our staff access to user data is strictly limited and audited

Data Minimization:

- We collect only the information necessary to provide the service
- You control what optional information you choose to provide
- Data retention periods are clearly defined in our privacy policy

Compliance:

- Our practices comply with GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable privacy regulations
- Regular security audits and penetration testing ensure our systems remain secure
- We maintain transparent privacy policies and provide data access and deletion options

You can review our complete Privacy Policy in the app (Settings > Privacy Policy) or on our website. The policy details what information we collect, how it's used, and your rights regarding your data.

If you have specific privacy concerns or questions, please contact our Privacy Officer at privacy@smokingcessationapp.com.

Yes, you have full control over your account and data, including the ability to delete them completely. There are several options for managing your data:

Temporary Deactivation:

If you want to take a break without losing your data, you can temporarily deactivate your account:

1. Go to Settings > Account > Deactivate Account
2. Confirm your choice
3. Your account will be deactivated but data preserved
4. You can reactivate by signing in again within 90 days

Selective Data Deletion:

If you want to remove specific information while keeping your account:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy > Manage My Data
2. Select the categories of data you wish to delete
3. Confirm your choices
4. The selected data will be permanently removed

Complete Account Deletion:

To permanently delete your account and all associated data:

1. Go to Settings > Account > Delete Account
2. Read the information about what will be deleted
3. Enter your password to confirm
4. Complete the deletion process

When you delete your account, all your personal information, cessation plan, progress data, and chat history will be permanently removed from our servers within 30 days, in accordance with our data retention policy. Certain anonymized aggregate data may be retained for research and improvement purposes, but this cannot be linked back to you.

If you need assistance with account deletion or have questions about what data is retained, please contact our support team at support@smokingcessationapp.com.

Your conversations with the AI chat assistant are an important part of your personalized support, and we take the privacy of these interactions seriously. Here's how your chat data is used and protected:

Primary Uses:

- Providing personalized responses and support for your quit journey
- Maintaining context between conversations to offer consistent support
- Identifying patterns in your triggers and challenges to improve support
- Tracking your progress and adjusting recommendations accordingly

Privacy Protections:

- Your chat conversations are encrypted both in transit and at rest
- Conversations are associated with your account ID, not your personal identity
- Chat data is stored separately from your profile information
- You can delete chat history at any time through Settings > Privacy > Clear Chat History

Quality Improvement:

With your permission (which you can provide or withdraw in Settings > Privacy > Data Sharing), anonymized portions of chat data may be used to:

- Improve the AI's understanding of smoking cessation challenges
- Enhance response quality for common questions and situations
- Identify gaps in the support provided
- Develop new features based on user needs

If you choose to allow your anonymized data to be used for improvement purposes, all personally identifiable information is removed, and the data is aggregated with other users' data. No human reviewers have access to your complete conversation history or account details.

You can change your data sharing preferences at any time without affecting your app experience. If you have concerns about chat data privacy, please contact our Privacy Officer at privacy@smokingcessationapp.com.