A new publication by the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH), Kicking Butts in the Twenty-First Century: What Modern Science Has Learned About Smoking Cessation, summarizes the spectrum of methods that have been proven to help smokers quit. The report also describes smoking cessation techniques currently in development and evaluates alternative methods that have been advocated as aids to smoking cessation. This report is not intended as a stop-smoking guide; instead, it is best used as a source of background information to complement the stop-smoking advice available from local and national health organizations, government agencies, and physicians.
More than 46 million Americans smoke, and nearly 70% of them say they want to quit. However, quitting is difficult for many smokers, and out of those who try, only 4-5% actually remain abstinent for one year or longer. In recent years, researchers have learned a great deal about the factors that help people quit smoking successfully and the barriers that may interfere with smoking cessation. Scientists have also developed new techniques for smoking cessation including both drugs and counseling methods that substantially increase the chances of success.
According to the report, using some form of nicotine replacement therapy approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gum, inhaler, lozenge, nasal spray, or patch can nearly double the chance of quitting. The FDA-approved drug bupropion can similarly increase the likelihood of stopping smoking, while two other drugs clonidine and nortriptyline are also effective in helping some smokers quit but are not FDA-approved for specific use in smoking cessation. In addition to medications, counseling in a group, as an individual, or by telephone can also help smokers quit. Combining some form of drug therapy with counseling increases the chances of quitting even more.
"Although it's been said many times, one simple fact bears repeating: the best way to deal with smoking is to never start," states Dr. Gilbert Ross, ACSH's Medical Director.
"Once begun, the smoking habit is incredibly difficult to break. The attraction of addicted smokers to their cigarettes is extremely powerful, as our new publication discusses. The tragically low success rates for quitting, with or without cessation aids, is stark evidence of the addictive power of tobacco."
He continues, "If you don't smoke, don't start. Even a few moments of smoking can trigger addiction. If you smoke, try to quit, and use any means outlined in our new booklet to help."
