Bupropion in Helping Adults Stop Smoking

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Currently smokes ≥ 15 cigarettes per day for at least 1 year * Motivated to quit smoking within the next 3 months PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Willing to attend clinic visits * Willing to refrain from nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) use during study participation * Able to speak and read English fluently * Has a home telephone and plans to reside in Western New York for the next year * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Not planning a pregnancy * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after study participation * No history of chronic renal or hepatic disease * No history of head trauma or seizure * No history of a seizure disorder, brain tumor, or CNS tumor * No history of or currently diagnosed bulimia or anorexia nervosa * No history of psychotic disorder * No diabetes requiring oral hypoglycemics or insulin * No excessive use of alcohol or alcoholism * No current addiction to opiates, cocaine, or stimulants * No poorly controlled hypertension (i.e., systolic blood pressure \[BP\] \> 170 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP \> 110 mm Hg) * No allergy to bupropion hydrochloride * No other surgical or medical condition that may significantly alter absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of bupropion hydrochloride * No history of noncompliance to medical regimens * No other clinical contraindication * No major depressive disorder PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent monoamine oxidase inhibitor * No recent discontinuation of a benzodiazepine * No concurrent Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) * No other concurrent drugs containing bupropion hydrochloride (e.g., Wellbutrin or Zyban) * No concurrent antipsychotics, antidepressants, theophylline, systemic steroids, over-the-counter stimulants or anorectics, or levodopa * No concurrent active treatment for cancer (e.g., chemotherapy or radiotherapy)