Quitting Smoking May Get Easier
My boyfriend in college was a heavy smoker. When he finally decided to quit, I was relieved for both of us. To make the ordeal of withdrawal easier, he began chewing nicotine replacement gum. He kept the little silver packets in his jacket pockets, the glove compartment, in upstairs and downstairs cabinets -- everywhere he could think of so that he wouldn't be left without a piece of gum in any conceivable circumstance. The pharmacy would sell only limited supplies -- and running out of that gum could be just as hair-raising as running out of cigarettes. It left you nervous and shaky -- and worse, if you ran out of the gum, you might go right back to the cigarettes.
Now the Food And Drug Administration has agreed to reconsider the 12-week suggested limit on the gum and on other over-the counter nicotine replacement products (NRTs) -- which include patches and lozenges as well as chewing gum. The FDA also agreed to make them more easily available. And that is big news for anyone trying to quit. I can certainly bear witness to that.
COMPARING SIDE EFFECTS
To find out more, I contacted K. Michael Cummings, PhD, chair of the department of health behavior at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo and one of the country's top experts in smoking cessation. He said that many people don't try NRTs, because they're fearful of getting addicted to the nicotine replacement, so they don't use it long enough to help get over the hump of their smoking addiction. But, he told me, it is now clear that the side effects of the smoking-cessation products aren't nearly as serious as the consequences of smoking, which include lung cancer, strokes and heart attacks, to name just some of the most serious.
Dr. Cummings emphasized that while NRTs won't automatically turn off the urge to smoke, they will help a smoker get relief from nicotine withdrawal by supplying nicotine minus the carcinogens and other harmful elements in tobacco products. He strongly believes that there is no reason for smokers using NRTs to discontinue using them after 12 weeks if they think it helps them stay off cigarettes. The American Cancer Society and others have been lobbying for just such a change as well.
CHANGES AHEAD
Most experts believe this labeling change will happen later this year. And this, Dr. Cummings said, will hopefully trigger other changes. Some of the most important: NRT products would be permitted for sale in all outlets now licensed to sell tobacco products - not just in pharmacies. In addition, NRT packaging should allow for the sale of products in daily supplies so that smokers can more directly substitute clean and safe NRTs for deadly and addictive tobacco products. (In other words, no more rooting around in the glove compartment for that spare piece of gum!) If these changes are made, NRTs are likely to cost less and become more easily available.
"It would be nice to see NRT products in gas stations and convenience stores, not just in pharmacies as is the case now," said Dr. Cummings. With wider distribution of NRTs will come more competition, driving down the purchase price. It now costs about $50 for a two-week supply of nonprescription lozenges or gum and a little less for 14 patches -- maybe not as much as cigarettes, but still expensive.
NICOTINE-FREE?
Nicotine consumed in a large enough quantity can be a deadly poison. And while the amount of nicotine in NRTs is too low to be acutely dangerous, there are certain safety concerns. The Journal of the American College of Cardiology reports that nicotine harms the linings of the arteries, thereby increasing the risk for heart attack and stroke. So think through your "quitting strategy." There's no question that giving up cigarettes is a tough but important thing to do. If you can use the patch or gum or whatever NRT works for you to accomplish this, it's going to improve your chances for a healthy life substantially. Then, you can step down from the NRTs as well -- and give yourself a chance to live completely nicotine-free.
Source(s):
--
Hollecrest & Associates Inc -"Turnaround Consultants" .
Sunridge Lodge "Back to Eden" Quality 24/7 care
261 Oakhill Drive, Brantford backtoeden.ontario@gmail.com
"Building elder peer communities that are cozy,caring and comfortable" -
Brant Positive Action Group "a positive community affirmative action group"
promoting goodwill and timely cost effective creative solutions to enhance the competitive well being of Brant, Brantford and Six Nations
