Posted on 01/11/2012 5:36:35 PM PST by Eric Blair 2084
A new study suggests cigarette smokers who quit after using over-the-counter medication such as nicotine patches are just as likely to relapse as smokers who go "cold turkey," casting fresh doubt on the effectiveness of such products.
The finding, from a survey of several hundred smokers, could heighten U.S. smoking-policy debates at a time when the federal health-care overhaul is widening eligibility for cessation medication but states are slashing funding for public-service announcements and telephone quit lines.
The study by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and University of Massachusetts Boston also coincides with slowing progress to get Americans to kick the cigarette habit, which the U.S. government says is linked to 443,000 deaths and $96 billion in medical costs each year. An estimated 19.3 percent of adults still smoked cigarettes in 2010, little changed from 20.9 percent in 2004.
In research published Monday in the online edition of Tobacco Control, a peer-reviewed journal, the authors said they surveyed 787 smokers in 2001-2002 who had recently quit in Massachusetts. Nearly one-third who participated in a follow-up interview in 2003-2004 reported having relapsed and almost one-third again reported relapsing in a third interview in 2005-2006.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
A good support group is the best help you can get.
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We the People Sheeple of the United States Nanny State, in Order to form a more perfect Union Socialist Utopia, establish Justice Socially engineer a country of non smoking, physically fit, seat belt and helmet wearing teetotalers, ensure domestic Tranquility Smoking bans in bars, limits on unhealthy food and social drinking, provide for the common defense Universal Healthcare, promote the general Welfare health of the population whether they like it or not, in order to save above mentioned Universal Healthcare entitlement program from bankruptcy, and secure the Blessings of Liberty Dependency to ourselves progressive liberals and our Posterity Hitler Youth who we brainwash through public school education, do ordain decree and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Nanny State of Liberals.
The results are similar, statistically, because most any addiction is “finally” ended, with no more relapse, when the person finally simply decides to take control, and quit, in spite of the pull of the addiction and with or without medical/drug support.
Some people will use medical/drug support to help them get to the point where they will take control (because they believe they need it); and some people will go it alone. But success comes with sustaining the decision to quit (take control of the choice) and, at least statistically, the success and relapse rates are about the same.
However, it is a statistic, and therefor IT DOES NOT MEAN that the medical/drug support is not helpful IN SOME CASES.
Just quit cold turkey.
If not, you will just keep paying those extra taxes, but for a shorter amount of time.
Considering the taxes we pay, we smokers should soon become the darlings of the government- and therefore of the media.
I’d quit smoking tomorrow but murder’s still illegal.
I have quit cold turkey and stayed off for 5 or more years three different times. I am now on year 8 of the third attempt; I think I’ve finally beat it. Of course, nearly $10 a pack will definitely keep me off of them!
People looking for a easy way out are not yet motivated to the point they will quit for good. Go into it with the attitude quitting will be tough. Very, very tough, but it only takes a few weeks to get over the hump.
And don’t try and quit anything else at the same time. Drink, eat - whatever. One thing at a time.
You "smokers" will live a hell of a lot longer than the average male homosexual, as has been proven in a number of studies. Better that the feds help to work with homosexuals to get them to stop their destructive behavior than push smokers around.
Besides, just where in the hell is there anything about smoking in our Constitution? Nanny state gone crazy! We have a heavy smoker in our White House (he's also an illegal alien), and nothing is said about him.
I still like nicotine. I just get it from electronic cigarettes instead of burning a leaf.
It tastes a lot better and I don’t smell. And I feel great.
But what I’ve been trying to explain to you for the last 5 years is that this is not about smoking, this is all about $$$$$$$$$$money.
Electronic cigarettes cost THE STATE billions of dollars in lost tax revenue, and Big PhRma is not happy that they spent all this money on smoking bans to get people to buy their gums, patches and lozenges in order to coerce smokers to quit, only to have a brilliant inventor sabotage their profit.
They have tried to kill e-cigs in the womb before it grew up to kick their butt. It’s like a Terminator movie. Thankfully, they lost in court.
Actually, Chantix did work for me. I didn’t think it would, but, I was wrong. Smoked for over 30 years. Didn’t really have a strong desire to quit. The side effects of depression are unpleasant but I was expecting it so was able to handle it. It definitely took me more than the one week to stop, but not much longer. Maybe 2 weeks? It’s been 14 months now....I have no desire for a cigarette but miss the smoking. Miss it like an old friend. No relapses at all. Whoo Hoo!
Speaking from experience, you need to be MISERABLE during the first couple of weeks so that you won’t dare start smoking again. If you try to soften the pain in any way you won’t get that message. I had nightmares for years about taking a puff and having to quit all over again.
That’s what I try to tell my wife. She won’t stop smoking because she doesn’t want to gain weight.
For anybody trying to stop smoking.
The nicotene gum and patches did nothing for me. I was chewing the gum and smoking at the same time.
I smoked 3 packs a day for years.
I stopped smoking in may 2011 and have not smoked since. I use the electronic cigarette. Works for me. At first it was costing me $80 a week (not much difference from smoking real cigarettes) but I managed to bargain around for different brands and got the cost down to about $30 a week.
I have had no desire to smoke real cigs. The e cigs are working for me.
Sorry. I meant that last link for someone else
I don’t think I ever disputed the government’s taxation motive.
Smoking bans are well accepted in most places and will be universal in the US in five years.
I voted against the ban in Austin, but it did pass. Interestingly, a court instructed the local PD not to enforce it and bars and people comply with the ban 95%.
I tried Chantix. Gave me strange dreams, upset stomache and only slight decrease in my desire for smoking.
But I know some relatives and friends who did Chantix and quit smoking successfully. I do recommend Chantix to try to quit.
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