Therapy to help smokers quit gradually

London, April 5: Want to quit smoking but not quite ready yet? For smokers like these, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is just what the doctor ordered, literally. This therapy can help smokers give up the urge to light up even when they don’t think they are ready.

Researchers from the University of Birmingham declared that the study was the first to focus on smokers who have no plans to stop immediately but are open to sustained abstinence using NRT. The therapy may assist them to give up the habit completely.

Dr Paul Aveyard, lead researcher from the School of Health and Population Sciences at the University of Birmingham said "We looked at papers that took people who said, I don't want to stop smoking, but I am prepared to reduce my smoking.”

He further stated that "Until now experts have advised people not to reduce their smoking but to quit abruptly. The worry has been that advising reduction will somehow deter people from the better alternative which is stopping right now."

For the study, Aveyard and his colleagues evaluated seven studies to compare the use of nicotine gum or inhalators with placebos. They wanted to measure which was more effectual in gradually getting smokers to quit.

During the course of the trail, participants were also provided behavioral support and monitoring, which was as crucial as the nicotine replacement itself.

The trials registered a total of 2,767 smokers who were given NRT for 6-18 months. It was observed that, 6.75 percent of those using NRT stopped smoking for six months which was nearly double the proportion of those using placebos. This showed that about 3 percent of smokers quit, who otherwise would not have done so.

The authors note that "previous data suggest that half of those who sustain six months of abstinence will maintain it for the rest of their lives."

Smoking is universally regarded as one of the leading causes of illness and premature death. Many try their hand at quitting, but only a few succeed. The prime reason for this is that although a large number are in favor of giving up the habit, only a minority want to do so abruptly.

The authors are optimistic that smokers might accomplish the needful by following nicotine assisted reduction to stop (NARS) programs, also known as 'cut down then stop’, 'cut down to stop' and 'cut down to quit'. The therapy did not demonstrate any serious health problems even when people were smoking.

Aveyard concluded that NRT would open the doors to treat all smokers rather than the small number who say they want to quit. The study is important because "it shows that treating a population of smokers not ready to stop means more of them stop."

The study was published in the British Medical Journal.