Smoking cessation is the effort to stop smoking tobacco products.

Contents

1 Key points for quitters 2 Statistics 3 Methods 4 Alternative techniques 5 References 6 External Links

Key points for quitters

If you smoke you should try to stop. This will improve your health now and in the future. Get some help. Quitting without support is extremely hard.

Drug treatments to help quitters have proven to be safe and effective, especially when combined with the support of your doctor.

Quitters need to seriously consider ways they should change their lifestyle to improve their chances of not restarting.

Many people need to try a number of times before they are successful. Smokers should not fear failure because they can always try again.

Statistics

No smoking cessation methods have consistently achieved better than a 25% quit rate after six months. About 1.5%–3% of smokers manage to quit each year without support from health services. Enrollment into the placebo arm of medical trial and receiving a minimum level of counselling increases this rate to about 5%–10% after one year, partly reflecting participants' motivation.

Methods

Effective techniques to increase smokers chances of successfully quitting are:

• Going "Cold turkey": stopping by force of will
• Nicotine replacement therapy (includes transdermal patches, gum and inhalers)
• Specific support and counselling
• Self-help books (Allen Carr etc.)
• The antidepressant bupropion (contraindicated in epilepsy and diabetes)

Health professionals may follow the "five A's"

1. Ask about smoking
2. Advise quitting
3. Assess current willingness to quit
4. Assist in the quit attempt
5. Arrange timely follow-up.

Alternative techniques

Alternative techniques include:

• Hypnosis
• Herbal preparations such as Kava Kava and Chamomile
• Nutritional nicotine detoxification
• Acupuncture
• Laser Therapy based on acupuncture principles but without the needles

References

1. Peters MJ, Morgan LC. The pharmacotherapy of smoking cessation. Med J Aust 2002;176:486-490. Fulltext (http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/176_10_200502/pet10850_fm.html). PMID 12065013.

External Links

• Quitnet (http://www.quitnet.com), non-profit support network