Kicking the Habit – Most Effective Smoking Cessation Methods

Kicking the Habit – Most Effective Smoking Cessation Methods

Now six months into 2017, how is your New Year’s Resolution to quit smoking coming along? What methods have you found to be most or least effective? It’s no secret that most smokers become addicted to nicotine, a drug naturally found in tobacco. In fact, more people in the U.S. are addicted to nicotine than to any other drug – according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nicotine may be as addictive as heroin, cocaine, or alcohol. Quitting smoking is difficult and often requires several attempts. People who stop smoking often return to smoking because of withdrawal symptoms such as feeling irritable, angry or anxious, having trouble thinking, craving tobacco products, feeling hungrier than usual.

A report released by the CDC in April 2017 and published in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease has studied the most popular smoking cessation techniques and methods used by nearly 16,000 adult cigarette smokers in the U.S. over a two-year period from 2014-2016. The study determined that 74.7 percent of survey participants used multiple methods during their most recent quit attempt.

“Giving up cigarettes all at once (63.3 percent) and reducing the number of cigarettes smoked (62 percent) were the most prevalent methods,” said the CDC. The nicotine patch, gum, or other approved Food and Drug Administration (FDA) methods were popular amongst 25.4 percent of respondents. Other quit methods include getting help from a doctor or health professional (15.2 percent), using smoking-cessation medications approved by the FDA (12.2 percent), receiving help from a website (7.1 percent), or a Quit-line (5.4 percent).

E-cigarettes have quickly become the most popular smoking cessation product (35.3 percent). However, e-cigarettes are classified as a tobacco product by the FDA, creating controversy about whether it is a safe, effective smoking cessation tool. “There is no conclusive scientific evidence that e-cigarettes are effective for long-term cessation of cigarette smoking,” the CDC said. “E-cigarettes are not approved by the FDA as a smoking cessation aid. Most smokers who are switching to e-cigarettes or ‘mild’ cigarettes are not switching completely or stopping their cigarette smoking.”

There are local resources available to help you live a tobacco-free life. Florida Department of Health Tobacco Free Florida’s cessation campaign, “Quit Your Way”, offers phone, group, web options, and text support. Free nicotine replacement therapy (patches, lozenges, or gum) are also available. For a list of Tobacco Cessation support group sessions offered in Polk County, please visit www.tobaccofreeflorida.com/quityourway or call 877-848-6696.

Source: Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) https://www.ncadd.org/blogs/in-the-news/cdc-report-evaluates-effective-smoking-cessation-methods