Light smokers, who smoke less than 10 cigarettes a day, have greater chances of quitting smoking if supported with counseling as well as given nicotine-replacement medication as a substitute for cigarettes.
In explaining the conclusions of this study that were published in the latest issue of Nicotine and Tobacco Research, a senior study author, Martin Mahoney, said, “While many studies have demonstrated the efficacy of nicotine medications for smoking cessation, very few have examined these questions in lighter smokers, as we have done. A unique strength of this study is the use of an experimental design implemented in a real world community setting of a state quitline.”
The study, which drew these conclusions, evaluated the quitting success rate of 1365 light smokers, who called the New York State Smokers’ Quitline between January and July 2010.
Every one of these smokers were called by two well-trained stop smoking counselors twice while about half of these smokers were sent quit smoking medication.
With almost 75% of these smokers saying that the nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) medication was the most important aspect of helping them to quit, the statistics also revealed that in comparison to those who only received counseling, the number of people who quit smoking successfully in seven months were 20% higher, thanks to the use of nicotine replacement therapy.
Clearly, this study revealed that NRT helps smokers to kick the habit with more success as opposed to those who decide to quit without the assistance of this type of therapy.
As for health experts, they are also convinced, considering the results of this study, that this method of combining NRT with stop smoking counseling is an effective way to curtail costs related to health issues that are caused by smoking.
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