Are There Effective Treatments for Tobacco Addiction
As the general belief goes, ‘all problems have solutions’, there are effective treatments for tobacco addiction. Although some smokers can quit without help, many individuals need assistance with quitting. This is particularly important because smoking cessation can have immediate health benefits. For example, within 24 hours of quitting, blood pressure and chances of heart attack decrease. Long-term benefits of smoking cessation include decreased risk of stroke, lung and other cancers, and coronary heart disease.
There are many ways in which people can come out of nicotine addiction. However before we even start with, the smoker has to have the will power and determination to quit smoking. It is this drive that is going to make any treatment for tobacco addiction a success. Nicotine Replacement Treatments Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs), such as nicotine gum and nicotine patch, were the first pharmacological treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in smoking cessation therapy. NRTs are used to relieve withdrawal symptoms. An added benefit is that these forms of nicotine have little abuse potential since they do not produce the pleasurable effects of tobacco products, nor do they contain the carcinogens and gases associated with tobacco smoke.
Nicotine gum provides some smokers with the desired control over the dosage and the ability to relieve cravings. In 1996 a nicotine nasal sprays, and in 1998 a nicotine inhaler, also became available by prescription, thus meeting the needs of many additional tobacco users. All the NRT products—gum, patch, spray, and inhaler—appear to be equally effective.
Although the primary focus of pharmacological treatments for tobacco addiction has been nicotine replacement, other treatments are also available. For example, the antidepressant bupropion was approved by the FDA in 1997 to help people quit smoking. Varenicline tartrate (Chantix) is a medication that recently received FDA approval for smoking cessation. This medication, which acts at the sites in the brain affected by nicotine, may help people quit by easing withdrawal symptoms and blocking the effects of nicotine if people resume smoking.
Scientists are also investigating the potential of a vaccine that targets nicotine for use in relapse prevention. The nicotine vaccine is designed to stimulate the production of antibodies that would block access of nicotine to the brain and prevent nicotine’s reinforcing effects.
Behavioural interventions play an integral role in smoking cessation treatment; either it is combined with medication or alone. A variety of methods can assist smokers with quitting, ranging from self-help materials to individual cognitive-behavioural therapy. These involvements teach individuals to recognize high-risk smoking situations, develop alternative coping strategies, manage stress, improve problem solving skills, and increase social support. Research has also shown that the more therapy is customised to a person’s situation, the greater the chances are for success.
Over the past decade, however, researchers have been adapting these behavioural approaches through mail, telephone, and Internet formats, which can be more acceptable and accessible to smokers who are trying to quit. In 2004, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) established a national toll-free number, to serve as a single access point for smokers seeking information and assistance in quitting. In addition, a new web site (www.smokefree.gov) offers online advice and downloadable information to make cessation easier.
Quitting smoking can be smooth sailing with the correct mind set and attitude for the smoker and with the right guidance .Research has now shown that extending treatment beyond the typical duration of a smoking cessation program can produce quit rates as high as 50 percent at 1 year.