According to a 2022 CDC report, nearly 29 million Americans smoke, and most of them want to quit. Approximately one-half have tried to quit, with a success rate of less than 10%. Of those half, fewer than 40% used support groups or approved medical treatments to help them quit.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that if you’re trying to quit smoking, support groups like our Quit Smoking Program, combined with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for those who need it will dramatically increase your chance of kicking the habit.
NRT helps smokers quit
NRT comes in a variety of forms, including patches, lozenges, gum, and spray. Their purpose is to supply a limited dose of nicotine to people with nicotine addiction and gradually decrease the level to gently wean the person from the addiction. The benefits of NRT vary among smokers based largely on their nicotine dependency, so naturally, studies vary regarding specific success rates. However, most studies show a significant improvement in success rates when NRT is used.
A review of over 150 studies from around the world with more than 50,000 participants compared NRT with a placebo. The overall cessation success rates were 10% for those given the placebo and 17% for those using NRT. Success rates were even higher when NRT was available over the counter. This study erred on the side of caution, counting all those who fell out of the program as “failures,” which may not have been the case, so the success rate may be higher, especially in the U.S., where NRT is available without a prescription.
The review of the studies also did not give success rates by nicotine dependency level. Those who smoke more than 10 cigarettes a day benefit most from NRT. For these smokers, the nicotine gum seems to work better than the patch, possibly because it delivers a more immediate nicotine boost and satisfies the craving to have something in the mouth. Given this known benefit for heavier smokers, it would be safe to say that NRT alone can more than double the heavy smoker’s chances of quitting smoking.
Support groups increase this success rate
If nicotine addiction were the only reason for the difficulty in quitting, smokers would be smoke-free after the 5-7 days it takes to clear nicotine from the body and would have no more cravings for a cigarette. But there’s more to smoking than the physical addiction. There are psychological reasons and social reasons that people smoke, and those need to be addressed, as well.
NRT addresses the addiction and lessens the discomfort of withdrawal, gradually tapering off the nicotine level so that the process is not as physically uncomfortable. However, without a strong reason to quit and the advice, guidance, and emotional support that a support group can provide, the majority of smokers will not succeed in breaking the habit.
A World Health Organization review found that advice from a health professional regarding the health risks of tobacco use increases the quitting success rate by up to 30%. Intensive advice increases the chance of quitting by 84%.
Our free program will help you quit tobacco for good
It’s not a lack of willpower that makes it so hard to quit, and it’s not just the physical addiction. Our free Quit Smoking Program has helped thousands of Bucks County and area residents quit smoking for good because it addresses the other issues that make it so difficult to quit. The program runs for 5 sessions, and some people sign up repeatedly for the program to maintain their support group and be a support for others.
We provide NRT for free to those who qualify in the form of patches or gum, two very effective methods. Our support group is available both on location and online, making it possible for as many people as possible to attend.
Register online HERE or by phone at (267) 291-7882. We are here to help you free yourself from tobacco and the smoking habit. Learn more at BCHIP.org/quit-smoking-programs.
