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Description

Research in Western countries has found that approximately 3-5% of quit attempts succeed using willpower alone (Hughes et al, 2004).Fact: date=June 2008 The British Medical Journal and others have reviewed the evidence regarding which methods are most effective for smokers interested in breaking free of the smoking habit, and concluded that

Nicotine dependence is most effectively treated with a combination of drugs and specialist behavioural support . . .

An even better chance of success can be obtained by combining medication and psychological support (see below) (USDHHS, 2000).Fact: date=June 2008 Medication or pharmacological quitting-aids that have shown evidence of effectiveness in clinical trials include medical nicotine replacement patches or gum, the tricyclic anti-depressant nortriptyline,bupropion (Zyban, or Quomem in some countries), and the nicotinic partial agonist, varenicline (Chantix in the US and Champix elsewhere).

There are many people and organizations touting what are claimed to be effective methods of helping smokers to stop. Any smoker thinking of paying money for such help would be well advised to ask whether the claims of success are backed up by independent comparative clinical trials, how the success rates have been calculated and what numbers of smokers have been included in the figures.Fact: date=June 2008

A range of population level strategies such as advertising campaigns, smoking restriction policies, and tobacco taxes have been used to promote smoking cessation.Fact: date=June 2008 Of these, raising the cost of smoking is the one that has the strongest evidence (West, 2006).Fact: date=June 2008

Smoking cessation will almost always lead to a longer and healthier life.Fact: date=June 2008 Stopping in early adulthood can add up to 10 years of healthy life and stopping in one's 60s can still add 3 years of healthy life (Doll et al, 2004).Fact: date=June 2008 Stopping smoking is associated with better mental health and spending less of one's life with diseases of old age.Fact: date=June 2008

The most common short-term effects of stopping smoking are increased irritability, depression, anxiety, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, increased appetite, constipation, mouth ulcers and increased susceptibility to upper respiratory tract infections.Fact: date=June 2008 These mostly last for up to 4 weeks, though increased appetite typically lasts for more than 3 months. The most obvious long-term effect is weight gain (Hughes, 2007).Fact: date=June 2008

Statistics

A U.S Surgeon General's report includes tables setting forth success rates for various methods, some of which are listed below, ranked by success rate and identified by the Surgeon General's table number.