The prevalence of smoking is much higher among the poor, marginalised and disenfranchised. Those who are dependent on alcohol and other drugs, suffering mental illness, and Indigenous people are among the heaviest smokers and are least likely to quit. This article describes a smallscale evaluation of a smoking cessation program, which used tailored nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) aimed at these groups, between 2004 to 2006. A mixed methodology approach to data collection was employed. The quantitative data indicated that a low level of success was achieved by program participants. The qualitative data provided rich accounts of peoples' experiences in the program. These could be used to develop more effective programs that take a full account of the complex issues that shape participants' responses to smoking cessation and provide greater levels of sustained motivation. Several issues related to the conduct of rigorous evaluation studies in this context are highlighted.