Treating Addiction

The majority of smokers would like to stop smoking, and each year about half try to quit permanently. Yet, only about 6% of smokers are able to quit in a given year. Most smokers will need to make multiple attempts before they are able to quit permanently. There are effective treatments that support tobacco cessation, including both behavioral therapies and FDA-approved medications.

 

Smokers who receive a combination of behavioral treatment and cessation medications quit at higher rates than those who receive minimal intervention. Interventions such as brief advice from a health care worker, telephone helplines, automated text messaging, and printed self-help materials can also facilitate smoking cessation.

Cessation interventions utilizing mobile devices and social media also show promise in boosting tobacco cessation. It is important for cessation treatment to be as personalized as possible, as some people smoke to avoid negative effects of withdrawal while others are more driven by the rewarding aspects of smoking.

Smoking Cessation is Beneficial at Any Age:

• Improves health status
• Enhances quality of life
• Reduces the risk of premature death
• Can add as much as a decade to life expectancy