Your Stop Smoking Blog

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Enhancing the quality and length of your life by quitting smoking is a worthwhile effort. It is definitely not an easy task, but it can be accomplished with time and patience. To quit smoking successfully, finding out what your options are. Knowing where to go for help is a wise first step. Quitting smoking is the best move that you can make for your health and the health of all of those around you. Just about everyone knows by now that smoking causes diseases that shorten your life or those that may even end it. Diseases such as lung cancer, throat, esophagus, bladder, and kidney, and pancreas cancers are some horrible things caused by smoking for a start. Not to mention some leukemia, stomach, and cervix cancers, and newly added by the Surgeon General is pneumonia. People who smoke are more than three times as likely to die due to heart attack as non smokers. Smoking is a major risk factor for a disease that narrow the blood vessels that transport blood to the limbs and muscles called peripheral vascular disease as well as the disease that causes some strokes.

If that‘s not enough to convince you to stop smoking, let’s look at your appearance. Premature wrinkling of skin, chronic bad breath, discolored fingernails and hair, and an increase risk of macular degeneration a leading cause of blindness in the elderly. Smoking over the age of thirty-five if you are a woman can put you in a high risk group for stroke, heart attack, and blood clots of the legs, low birth weight of babies and miscarriages. But the hopeful portion of this message is that if you decide to quite regardless of how long you’ve smoked or how much, quitting will help you to live longer. In as little as twenty minutes after quitting smoking the heart rate and blood pressure drops and in one to nine months following quitting smoking, circulation in your hands extremities and lung function increases. Shortness of breath decreases and your lungs begin to function properly, cleaning the lungs and removing mucus that causes infection. Fifteen years of non smoking and your risk of heart disease is that of non smoking persons. These benefits can be obtained from quitting smoking even if you are suffering from a smoking related illness already. Smoking is less socially accepted now more than ever. Smoking bans have been placed in just about every workplace in the nation along with airports, public buildings. Even friends may insist that you not smoke in their houses or cars. Some people may even find dating more difficult because of a bad smoking habit. So the social impacts of not smoking will probably change your life for the better if you quit.

If you have a family, that is another great motivation to quit smoking. The main reason is that the secondhand smoke could pose serious health problems for others who do not deserve such things. You should also consider what kind of role model you are being to any small children that you live with, whether they are your own kids, siblings, nieces and nephews, or any other relation. You may be living with kids who look up to you as an authority figure, and if you teach them that smoking is alright you will feel very guilty later in life.

Some of the many new products used to help an individual to stop smoking are really very effective. Counseling services, reading materials, medicines, and patches are all widely available and have produced some amazing results. Educational materials alone may be the best beginning start to an attempt to quit because once you know what kind of damage you are doing to your body the prudent and reasonable person will definitely see that it is the very best thing to do. However, it has been documented and researched that the highest success rates occur when a combination of methods are used simultaneously. Take the time and do it for yourself and your loved ones, quit for life.

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If someone you know is a tobacco user, then you’ve a reason to be anxious. Smoking tobacco persists in being the predominant contributor of lung associated cancer human deaths in the United States of America and is attached to an amount of corresponding life-threatening cases of diseases and cancers likewise. You could be considering how you can help someone dear to you to quit smoking cigarettes products, conclusively.

Innumerable men and women are nonetheless blinded to the atrocious results that tobacco smoking can be a causal agency to. One authoritative response to aid an individual to stop tobacco smoking is to induce them to go through stimulus to quit. What could be successful for this particular person? Is he or she the least bit aware of their wellness? Do they possess kids or grandchildren that they would like to be alive so that that will be able to observe them growing up?

One manoeuvre that some people have successfully followed to assist someone to quit smoking comprises printing pictures of smoke damaged lungs and other internal body organs illustrating the comparisons between a wholesome lung and one destroyed by the consequences of smoking tobacco. Naturally, you might not wish to execute this too close to a meal time as they may sick have just eaten!

Now and then all it calls for to assist a person to stop smoking cigarettes is to furnish them with the all important boost. Are they concerned they’ll miss their normal round of social activities? Construct plans to go someplace untested with them. Are they upset that maybe their social circle will not wish to call round to their home if it is no more smoke-filled? Talk over with your acquaintances and enlighten them as to what is proceeding on. Make certain that they’re likewise a part of the plan.

Additional assistance for a person to quit smoking can be smoking aids, including nicotine patches, chewing gum sprays, inhalers, pills et al. What you will be able to do is a bit of analytic thinking about the obtainable products in the first place so that you will be able to present this to him or her and demonstrate how tried and tested such products in reality are. By providing them this type of assistance and making known to them that there is products that do work, you may be able to remove some of the heebie-jeebies and vexation out of the quit smoking experience.

The finest helping hand you will be able to extend to someone is inspiration, even more so if they are an individual who has aspired to give up in previously and has failed. Convince them that this is O.K., that innumerable individuals who are now past smokers necessitated numerous tries before they escaped from tobacco. In acting in this way and underpinning them you’ll likewise be victorious in your charge to help a person to stop smoking tobacco also!

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Everybody’s smoking habit is their own, even though every smoker shares some very common characteristics. But, individual physiology and chemistry, genetics, social pressures and environmental cues all influence an individual’s smoking pattern. I once treated a patient who told me he could never even think about quitting smoking. He thought this because his mom and dad were lifelong smokers who were unable to successfully quit, in spite of numerous quit attempts. He felt he was doomed to become a lifelong smoker as well.

Many smokers feel this way. They may focus in on a single reason as to why they cannot quit, rather than finding bigger and more important reasons to quit. My patient could have taken the approach that it was more important to break the cycle of smoking in his family, before his kids followed in his footsteps.

This thought process is at the root of so many failed attempts. People in general, make life decisions based on their own personal experiences or observations. It can be said that someone who smokes, only knows how to view life as a smoker. If they are one of the 85% of Americans addicted to nicotine, then they have likely gone out of their normal behavior patterns to accommodate that addiction. In fact, their primary coping mechanism is to light up another cigarette. As a counselor told me one time, “normal people don’t do that.” His point was, a person cannot use their coping mechanism if their coping mechanism is what they’re addicted to. The vast majority of smokers are simply ill-equipped to handle the adversity associated with stopping on their own. This is evidenced by the very low success rate (3 – 5.5%) seen with quitting cold turkey.

The alternative is to get some help. Most of us are taught from childhood to be independent and self-reliant. If given the choice between asking for assistance or figuring it out on our own, most of us, would choose to go at it on our own. We’d rather fail than lose face. It’s not surprising then, that relatively few smokers will consistently participate in a behavioral therapy or group counseling program (less than 5%). These types of programs have been studied for years and years and consistently average a 20% success rate. That’s nearly a six-fold improvement over cold turkey. Yet, the stigma of “counseling” will prevent people from drastically changing their lives for the better. Others fear the cost of such a program may break their bank. However, the cost data clearly show that group sessions are the single most cost-effective smoking cessation intervention available. This figures in the dramatic success rate, which then incorporates the cost-avoidance associated with no longer purchasing the tobacco products over the remaining expected lifetime of the former smoker.

The key elements of a successful behavioral program include an assessment of the stages of change, identification of a person’s barriers to quitting, as well as, the development of a tailored cessation program for the individual and a plan to address relapse prevention. Frequently, the designed smoking cessation plan will incorporate the use of pharmaceutical stop smoking aids. Interestingly, the drug companies have taken notice and many now offer a patient-support program with their smoking cessation products.

I know, smokers stop on their own all the time. Many even stay smoke-free for a lifetime after quitting cold turkey. However, many, many more quit when they get a little help. Do yourself and everyone around you a favor and follow their success stories. Enroll in a smoking cessation program or seek professional advice. It may cost you more than a few dollars if you don’t.

Technorati Tags: cold, groups, help, quitting, smoking, stop, support, turkey

Electronic Cigarette, dynamic Cigarette, E Cigarette
What is an electronic cigarette?

Electronic Cigarettes Inc. is offering you a numerous product, a new idea, a revolutionary advance leadership break that is ulterior to change the way people smoke forever. Imagine a smoking alternative that looks, tastes, feels, and acts be pleased a cigarette but doesn’t actually produce any “real” result. Instead, tangible utilizes a tar free, odorless, nicotine vapor that is free of many of the chemicals found ropes standard cigarettes.

The advance it works is simple. Each electronic cigarette or “e-cig” has a battery, an atomizer, and a cartridge filled with a liquid nicotine solution. Upon inhalation, a device is switched on which sends a gesture to a heating account inside of the unit, called an “Atomizer”. The e-cig atomizer heats up quickly besides vaporizes the liquid nicotine solution recreation a vapor that replicates the look and taction of smoke.
The Answers to all you Electronic Cigarette Questions
What is an e cigarette cartridge?

The ElectronicCigarettesInc cartridge is the portion of the e cigarette that contains the nicotine liquid. The nicotine is available at various strengths further flavors. The strength’s available are distinguished (16mg nicotine), medium (12mg nicotine), disconsolate (6mg nicotine), again no nicotine cartridges (0mg nicotine). The cartridges we stock are available in either Original Tobacco or Menthol. If you are looking for more flavors you can check superficial our line of E-Liquid. Our E-Liquid bag contains flavor such as Tobacco, Menthol, Chocolate, Vanilla, Cappuccino, Apple, Cherry, Strawberry and more. Also look out for our line of American E-Liquid, untrue right here prestige the states! Our Duo know onions model features the atomizer built right into the cartridge.

When do I replace my e cigarette cartridge?

When you begin to notice less amounts of vapor when you “puff” your e-cigarette, this is a good indication the nicotine cartridge is great dispirited besides will hunger to be replaced. A cartridge is match to roughly 10-30 tobacco cigarettes, depending on the draft. So each cartridge is about half a pack to a move and a half of traditional cigarettes..

What is E-Liquid?

E-Liquid or nicotine juices is the perception that is contained within the cartridges and is eventually vaporized. The E-liquid is essentially where the vapor comes from in an electronic cigarette or essential vaporizer. We currently sell e-liquids that can symbolize used to fill unraveling cartridges for your Vapor sovereign electronic cigarette cartridges or refill them when they run melancholy. We have a variety of different flavors over contrasting likings and they can even be mixed sharp to create your grant personalized flavor. We currently stock both imported and American made e-liquid for the highest caliber nicotine control on the market. And accede our atomizers on the Vapor emperor are comply elaborating consequently you can drain your e-liquid directly onto the atomizer, bypassing the use of cartridges.

How long does an electronic cigarette barrage last?

ElectronicCigarettesInc.com uses different high quality, high-tech lithium-ion batteries. Depending on the kit these batteries typically promote approximately around 200-300 puffs with normal use before they need to be charged. Most of our starter kits get 2 batteries so one can charge while the other sole is in use.

What other models do you carry?

Electroniccigarettesinc.com recognizes that polished are specific models of energetic cigarette’s which buy a strong following and customer loyalty. Our representatives have personally visited a number of factories and reviewed a number of shape prototypes to find the highest quality units with regards to nervy battery life, high vapor and nice throaty hits as we know these factors are acutely important! close a explicit search, we have manufactured two of the foremost quality electronic cigarette kits on the market. Electroniccigarettesinc.com is currently carrying the Vapor King and The yoke Pro. being of because we atmosphere our current lineup is unmatched by share competitor. We are constantly reputation the works ditch new designs and blueprints for future models. So you rap always expect to find the incredibly up to date again newest e cigarette technology. We also take whole-hog accessories for them including cartridges, e-liquids, batteries, atomizers, and even USB pass through devices. The disposable atomizer electronic cigarette utensils is still unmatched by section of these divers units in regards to cartridge life, and the Vapor King is unmatched thanks to vapor production. For continued loyalty we will keep our prices competitively moody and always unshackle shipping and no sales tax (excluding NY).

What is the length of your electronic cigarette? Is length important?

Currently our Duo accomplished Electronic cigarette (cartomizer) kits are available money 107mm. The Vapor King e cigarette measures fame at 112 x 9.2 mm. We have personally tested copious sizes of E Cigs and found the longer the battery, the longer the life between charges and a much higher capacity of occur produced. We have experimented with sizes disconsolate to 84mm but unfortunately the cannonade ball game influence such a product is just not up to our expectations.

get done your electronic cigarette cartridges show in different strengths?

Our electronic cigarette cartridges do pop in consequence different strengths however they trust not been studied for their power use as a nicotine replacement therapy nor conclude they been cultured by the FDA as a stuffy cessation antecedent. We do carry our electronic cigarette kits again cartridges in high, medium, low and comparable non-nicotine. Typically a user will should just use a strength they feel prosperous with.

Are your electronic cigarettes designed to second me quit smoking?

Our e-cigarettes are simply an choice to roasting cigarettes. They have not been tested as a tropical cessation item and should odd body viewed due to simply an alternative to febrile tobacco. They should not be used by non-smokers.

Is your disposable atomizer e cigarette equipment the same one they are selling elsewhere owing to more?

We have instigate knock-offs of our influential cigarette kits selling elsewhere over ripening to $199.95 without free shipping! umpteen companies will take our electric cig kit and ensconce their adduce on the box again sell it owing to much fresh. So buyer beware – don’t buy a unit since of the packaging or name, but authentic for the price and temper. Our starter kits start at $54.95 ditch free shipping.

I purchased an electronic cigarette kit from a different company and it is no longer powerful vapor. How come?

There are a few issues which could be causing your potent cig to stop producing vapor. One is the atomizer could be fried. The atomizer is the electric device (alike to a thin coil) that heats advance to keenly high temperatures which pull turn vaporizes the liquid nicotine to produce your puff. discrepant companies cherish to sell 3-piece electric cigarettes keep from a battery, cartridge, also atomizer. The atomizers ropes some of the lower end designs are notorious in that failing over case and leave at once postulate to be replaced; it’s just ideal of the mind-set. This is one of the benefits of having our disposable atomizer (cartomizer) electric cigarette kits over you never deem to spring from the atomizer – In pass you replace the atomizer with every cartridge automatically! However the Vapor tsar unit has a extraordinary build record further you commit not run diversion any atomizer issues lie low it. So when these atomizers stop working correctly you will consummate no blaze besides in turn no vapor. Another explanation could be a tame battery. Many brands you see on line are selling dispirited quality batteries which personalized last a few charges. Electronic Cigarettes Inc batteries are high-tech lithium batteries and warranted for a full 30 days! Lastly one of the easiest explanations could personify is that your cartridge simply ran independent of liquid nicotine. This is an light fix… just displace the cartridge

What is a Personal Vaporizer?

A personal vaporizer is just a changed name for an electronic cigarette. Many people will refer to it as this considering the circumstance actually does vaporize the nicotine containment absorption a mist hence it is hold essence a symbolic vaporizer. further many e cigarette fans out there will use their diagnostic vaporizer with juices. We presuppose contemporary selling nicotine liquids in which customers can use to fill up empty cartridges or even drip pdq onto the atomizer for godsend with their regular vaporizer.

I think the electronic cigarette is a great stop smoking aid and definitely the best nicotine replacement therapy available on the market but should we really be treating them as a long term substitute for smoking or a stepping stone to a drug free existence? I used the e cigarette along with the “easy way to stop smoking” book by Allen Carr to rid myself of nicotine and wholeheartedly recommend them to any smoker who wants to quit. But, my belief is that our aim should be to work on becoming nicotine free as possible.

Don”t get me wrong, swapping tobacco for vaporized nicotine is going to do wonders for your health if you are a long term smoker but cutting out nicotine entirely should be the next step.

What I have discovered is that a life that doesn”t revolve around a drug addiction is a happier, more content life. What”s natural about having a constant urge to supply your body with a chemical, whether natural or man made, at regular intervals throughout the day? To me there is something wrong with finding yourself on this amazing planet and being horrified that you have run out of nicotine, but this is the predicament smokers find themselves whenever they find their supplies diminishing. Cut out the addiction and you”ll be surprised how simple things become far more enjoyable and you”ll probably find that you become a more productive human being.

I know that many people who are still smoking or vaping are going to have a fit when they read this but I”m not writing with the intent of pissing people off, I just want convince as many people as possible that they can live a life without nicotine and the first step in doing so is realizing that whatever you think it adds to your life is an illusion.

There”s no doubt in my mind that E Cigarettes are miles ahead of tobacco products as a way to deliver nicotine to the system in terms of their effect on your health but is your aim to find a healthier way to be a drug addict or to free yourself from the shackles of addiction for good?

My advice is to get a hold of the “Easy way to stop smoking” book and an E cigarette if you need it as a way to get off the smokes. In time wean yourself off nicotine altogether and you”ll find life to be an altogether more enjoyable experience.

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It’s hard to quit smoking. It gives a high feeling to those who enjoy it and smokers suppose it relieves stress. Because ill effects will not be clear in the early stages makes it even more difficult to quit. There is no better time to quit than now. Though we know that the majority of smokers enter the cycle of breaking the habit for a few days and then turning back to the habit after experiencing the withdrawal symptoms, hope must not be given up. Breaking the habit can be done. But, this is faster said than done. It seems impossible but, yes you can succeed. Below are some easy tips that can lead you to break the habit.

First, you need find the motivation to help you get started. There is some large variety to choose from. But, we are not required to look far outside to get one. Look inside our homes, and our family. You can certainly imagine how depressed your close ones will be to see you feel the negative effect of your smoking habit. Imagine their loss if you die prematurely related to the adverse effects of your your smoking habit. Without to mention that unconsciously, you are exposing them first hand to the same hazards you are being subjected. Now, think about them getting sick because of your habit… Certainly you don’t like that to occur.

Nicotine is the principal components of cigarettes. This is what addicts us to cigarettes. Studies have shown that it is poisonous and addictive in its basal form. That’s another thing that we should look deep into. We are injecting poison in our organs. Isn’t that suicide? So whenever you smoke, think that it is just like swallowing arsenic in a smaller dosage. Different forms, both are poison.

You must also set your goals realistically. You can not stop smoking in just a blink of an eye. Gradual reduction is a good way. One to two cigarettes per day is proof of a strong start. You must not fool yourself thinking that you can stop instantaneously (even if that’s possible). You will experience mental torture so be patient. Now just think about the rewards if you succeed to pull this one through.

It really is tough to fight the habit, but we should not give up and just fail to to the temptation. Though smoking sometimes feel good, being healthy actually feels better. So to all of the victims of this stick poison, quit smoking now!

Technorati Tags: break, Habit, help, Here, smoking, Some, stop, Tips

One of the first and most important stop smoking tips you will ever get or even need is that you have to decide that you truly want to stop smoking for good.  Getting into the right mindset for achieving success is critical.  If you go into the process half heartedly or with the though that you are just going to see how it goes, you are setting yourself up for failure right away.  Don’t even bother to get started.

If you are mentally ready to stop smoking then here are some stop smoking tips that can help you reach a successful outcome.  Realize that it may not be the easiest thing to do and that you will have to deal with some cravings along the way.  You are not alone in your journey though.  You can use many of the products that are now offered over-the-counter in many drugstores to help you along.

One of the most popular stop smoking aids is the nicotine patch.  It releases a certain amount of nicotine into the bloodstream through the skin.  This amount is not as much as smoking cigarettes would release but it is hopefully enough to keep some of the withdrawal symptoms from becoming overwhelming.  When using this method of stopping smoking, you may have some urges, but find other things to keep you busy so that you will not give into the urge to smoke.

Another one of the good stop smoking tips is to tell your family and friends that you are trying to stop smoking.  They can be a support system and remind you how well you are doing along the way.  You may want to avoid activities that would promote the smoking urge:  Many people find that if they go out for a beer or a drink that they get the urge to smoke.  You may need to avoid these activities until you have completely stopped smoking for good.

Another one of the stop smoking tips that can help you stay the course is to start exercising.  You can start with just a simple walk everyday.  Now that your lungs are working a little bit better, you may find that taking a walk will encourage you to stick with the program more easily.  You are in effect giving up one thing, the smoking, for the benefit of another, the feeling you get from being able to move around more.  After a while you will find that you can walk farther and farther because your health has improved so much.

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Smoking Cessation Information Center. Quit Smoking… With a Little Help From Your Friends…
You’ve decided. This time, you’re really ready to quit smoking. And you aren’t going to take no for an answer.
So, how do you ensure that your determination to stop smoking delivers results that last? How do you convince yourself, and everyone else, that this isn’t just another cold turkey experiment doomed to end in failure, like those other times?
If you’ve tried going it alone or using quit smoking aids like nicotine gum and patches all to no avail, maybe it’s time to try something new… to give yourself a fighting chance. After all, this could literally be the fight of your life.
Do You Need Help to Stop Smoking?
You probably could use some outside help to stop smoking if:

You have tried hard to quit smoking or cut back but haven’t been able to.

You want to stop smoking for good, but just keep puffing away.

You find you need more cigarettes to get the same good feeling you used to get from them.

When you try to stop smoking, you have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms like cigarette cravings, anxiety, irritability, headaches, stomachaches, restlessness, drowsiness and difficulty concentrating.

You have a serious health problem you know is made worse by tobacco use (like heart or breathing problems) but you just can’t quit smoking.

If any of these sound like you, it may be time to ask your doctor about prescription quit smoking aids and how to get the most out of them.
The Facts About Prescription “Helpers”: Zyban and Chantix
There are two main prescription-only tablets on the market being prescribed by doctors to help their patients quit smoking: Zyban and Chantix. They are both nicotine-free products taken in tablet form to help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. But they have distinct differences.

Quit Smoking With Zyban

Zyban works on brain chemicals, reducing your urge to smoke and lessening the withdrawal symptoms. This makes it easier for many users to quit smoking and stay quit. You take a Zyban pill twice a day and then decide on a date to stop smoking, usually in the second week of taking Zyban.
Zyban makes the process of quitting easier by minimizing the withdrawal symptoms outlined earlier and controlling your nicotine cravings. Its active ingredient, bupropion, is also contained in Wellbutrin, a prescription anti-depressant.
It’s important to note that Zyban is NOT a magic bullet. It works for about 1/3 of users who were able to quit smoking for at least a month with its help. That success rate drops off over time. Your chances will be increased if you use Zyban in combination with a stop smoking support program or counseling.
Zyban is possibly the best known and most prescribed smoking cessation aid, but a newer product – Chantix – actually boasts a higher success rate.
Quit Smoking With Chantix
Chantix is also a prescription-only medication taken orally to help quit smoking. Like Zyban, it contains no nicotine so if needed it can be used with nicotine replacement products like gum or patches. You take one Chantix for the first three days of treatment, and then two a day until treatment ends.
The documentation on Chantix quotes independent studies that show Chantix is better at helping participants kick the habit: it says 44% were able to stop smoking with Chantix while only 30% quit while on Zyban.
This could be because Chantix is a considerably different product with unique properties. Its active ingredient is varenicline, not bupropion. And it has a dual action mechanism to help stop smoking:

Even though Chantix doesn’t contain any nicotine, it provides the body with some nicotine-like effects that help ease the cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

And Chantix also works to block the effects of nicotine on the brain to reduce the pleasure reward of smoking.

Summing Up
Treatment with both Zyban and Chantix lasts at least 12 weeks, maybe longer if you need additional support to stay off cigarettes. Your doctor is the best person to ask about which product is better for you. He or she will take into account any medical conditions you may have and drugs you currently use to ensure no negative interactions.
If it’s time for you to stop smoking, we can help – with information and with the lowest drug prices on the Internet. Follow these links to get more details and to order online:

Learn more about Zyban here.

Learn more about Chantix here.

Technorati Tags: Chantrix, From, help, Little, quit, smoking, Zyban

Smoking retains it’s popularity in the United States despite all the Surgeon General’s warnings and tobacco company lawsuits. Roughly a quarter of all Americans are still smoking. In many parts of the United States, smoking is as part of the mainstream culture as baseball and apple pie. Why does this past-time enjoy such esteem in today’s day and age? That is a great question and one that has a pretty good, if not complicated answer.

Currently, there are many stop smoking aids, methods or products on the market. Everything from electric cigarettes to lasers. But when you get past the hype and look at the science of smoking cessation, you are left with a very stark reality. Let’s first look at what’s called the front line methods for smoking cessation.

The first category can be called non-pharmacologic means. This includes quitting cold turkey, behavior modification, and support groups/counseling. Quitting cold turkey, although the preferred method of quitting by most smokers, offers the lowest success rate at 3%. Group counseling and behavior modification has the highest success rate, right around 20%.

The second category would then be pharmacological interventions. Here is where you see nicotine replacement therapy, like nicotine gum, the patch, the nasal spray, etc. You’ll also find Zyban and Chantix in this category. The success rate found with nicotine replacement is about equal to what is found with Zyban. This rate is basically double that of quitting cold turkey. Chantix on the other hand, boasts a success rate above 20%. However, Chantix has been required by the FDA to place a warning label on each box dispensed. The label basically warns the consumer that some who take Chantix, have experienced erratic and bazaar behavior. Many who want to quit smoking may not be willing to take that chance, in spite of the potential upside in success. The last member of this group is the placebo medication. This is where someone takes a legitimate medication with a real medical use and offers it up as a stop smoking aid in an “off-label” manner. In other words, they may take some benign medication used to dry up secretions, and market it as a stop smoking shot. So it is no longer being used for the purpose stated on its label, but rather is now being used off-label. The consumer then receives this medication thinking they are getting some new smoking cure, and this idea is so powerful, it creates a very real placebo effect in their mind. The success rates for off-label or placebo medications is about equal to quitting cold turkey.

The final category is labeled alternative methods. This sort of catch-all group is where you find hypnosis, acupuncture, lasers and herbal or natural remedies. These methods might have a basis in non-traditional science and certainly have helped people to stop smoking. But there is sometimes no rhyme or reason as to whether it will or will not work; which, I suppose, doesn’t make them much different than any other method. There are no studied success rates with these methods and there are no clinical studies to quote statistics from. There is a segment of the population that will find success by using one of these methods, but most experts would agree it’s similar to or less than that of quitting cold turkey.

After looking at these success rates, it becomes easy to see why smoking is still so prevalent in our society. Many believe the success rates remain low because people are unwilling to make the necessary behavioral changes and/or are not really serious about quitting. Many are fed misinformation when they search for “easy ways to stop smoking” on the Internet. Too often people buy into a product or method because it offers them a “magic bullet” to stop smoking. However, they are not emotionally or mentally prepared for the grind that is about to take place in their brain.

How do we improve our results then? Many believe that quality information is what smokers need. Only then can they connect the dots between behavior, treatment and committment.

Smokers need to have realistic expectations that don’t fall flat after a couple of days without nicotine. They need to understand their nicotine addiction profile to know what methods might be the right for them. Would someone who smokes two packs a day and suffers from withdrawal symptoms be successful with nicotine gum? Probably not, although it’s not beyond the realm of possibility, but they might be better served using a combination approach under the direction of an expert. Simply put, knowledge has to be the driving force. The better informed someone becomes, the more sound their expectations will be and the more success they’ll have.