Methods of Quitting Smoking   by Scott James

in Health / Quit Smoking    (submitted 2009-06-09)

Methods of Quitting Smoking can be many and varied. It is much easier to talk about giving up than to actually give up.But it can be done. The one thing that has to be remembered in all of this is what it is exactly that is being given up

Smoking cessation (or quitting smoking) is the action leading towards the discontinuation of the consumption of a smoked substance, mainly tobacco, but it may encompass cannabis and other substances as well.

As has been mentioned there are a number of methods that have been used to help smokers give up but in all cases there has to be a deep desire to actually give up before to be brutally frank there is much likelihood of any success. What are the range of treatments and methods available to the average smoker now that we have crossed this particular issue of motivation and desire.

One of the most popular methods used by at least 80-90% of all smokers when they successfully give up smoking is that of total withdrawal and all of the attendant side effects this brings such as “Cold Turkey”. Other methods used range from antidepressants and drug therapy to self help and even aspects of spiritualism.

So let us try and put together a more comprehensive list of methods used to help quit smoking.

We start with the most obvious and that is the one that was discussed earlier and that is just stopping straight.

There are variations of this in existence but these have the added benefit of additional counselling as support. After this we have the usage of nicotine support patches for perhaps a periods of up to eight weeks to enable a more gradual withdrawal of side effects to take place. Next we find the usage of limited antidepressants such as bupropion. Alongside this is the usage of the nicotine receptor agonist varenicline (chantix) which is a prescription drug that can be used to alleviate some of the withdrawal symptoms. After this we have noticed an increase in the use of injection therapy whereby the user is given an injection which primes the immune system to produce antibodies which attach themselves to the nicotine and thereby prevent it from reaching the brain. There has also been a rise though not necessarily a successful one of the usage of Hypnotherapy.

Alongside the rise in the more mainstream medical treatments there has also been a considerable uptake in the usage of more fringe therapies such as self help and “spiritual influences”. Do any of them work? Yes and no has to be the honest answer but the real clincher in all of this possibly has to be the will power of the person or persons involved. If they want it to happen then there is an increased chance that the therapy or treatment will be successful.

Act with prudence and caution. Articles of a Medical nature should always be taken with consideration to your own medical circumstance.

We have to say this. Never take one piece of advice in isolation. Your professional advisor should be contacted and his or her advice sought.

The reason for our recommendation to seek independent advice is as follows. With matters like these it is always prudent, in these litigious times, to get independent advice that should confirm your initial belief.

About the Author

Scott James regularly writes about Health issues and more on the above can be found at Methods of Quitting Smoking or http://methodsofquittingsmoking.com