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Quit Smoking

Smoking cessation (colloquially quitting ) is the process of discontinuing the practice of inhaling a smoked substance. Smoking cessation programs mainly target the smoking of tobacco, but may also encompass other substances that can be difficult to stop using due to the development of strong physical addictions or psychological dependencies resulting from their habitual use.

Methods of Tobacco Cessation

Nicotine patches

One popular method for discouraging tobacco consumption is the use of 'nicotine patches'. These patches deliver doses of the addictive chemical nicotine, thus reducing the unpleasant effects of nicotine withdrawal. These patches can give smaller and smaller doses of nicotine, slowly reducing dependence upon nicotine and thus tobacco. This method becomes most effective when combined with other medication and psychological support. In clinical trials, 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 U.S. and Champix elsewhere) proved to be effective medication/pharmacological quitting-aids.

Smoking cessation services

Group or individual therapy can help people who want to quit. Some smoking cessation programs employ a combination of coaching, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and pharmacological counseling.

It is believed that a very few smokers can successfully quit the habit in their very first attempt. On the contrary, many studies indicated that many smokers find it difficult to quit, even after they get afflicted with tobacco related diseases. A serious commitment and resolve is required to arrest nicotine dependency. Quitting can be even harder for individuals with dark pigmented skin compared to individuals with pale skin since Nicotine has an affinity for melanin-containing tissues. Studies suggest this can cause the phenomenon of increased nicotine dependence and lower smoking cessation rate in darker pigmented individuals.

There is an important social component to smoking, which can be utilized by the counselors while advising the addicts. Study analyzing a densely interconnected network of over 12,000 individuals found that smoking cessation by any given individual reduced the chances of others around them lighting up by the following amounts: a spouse by 67%, a sibling by 25%, a friend by 36%, and a coworker by 34%.

Weight gain

Some studies have concluded that those who do successfully quit smoking may gain weight. "Weight gain is not likely to negate the health benefits of smoking cessation, but its cosmetic effects may interfere with attempts to quit." (Williamson, Madans et al., 1991). Therefore, drug companies researching smoking-cessation medication often measure the weight of the participants in the study. In 2009, it was found that smoking over expresses the gene AZGP1 which stimulates lipolysis, which is the possible reason why smoking cessation leads to weight gain.

Depression

In the case of especially women, a major hurdle for quitting may emanate through Major depression and challenge smoking cessation. Quitting smoking is especially difficult during certain phases of the reproductive cycle, phases that have also been associated with greater levels of dysphoria, and subgroups of women who have a high risk of continuing to smoke also have a high risk of developing depression. Since many women who are depressed may be less likely to seek formal cessation treatment, practitioners have a unique opportunity to persuade their patients to quit.

Comparison of success rates

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.

Other techniques for quitting