| Everybody's smoking habit is their own, even though | | | | assistance or figuring it out on our own, most of us, |
| every smoker shares some very common | | | | would choose to go at it on our own. We'd rather fail |
| characteristics. But, individual physiology and chemistry, | | | | than lose face. It's not surprising then, that relatively |
| genetics, social pressures and environmental cues all | | | | few smokers will consistently participate in a behavioral |
| influence an individual's smoking pattern. I once treated | | | | therapy or group counseling program (less than 5%). |
| a patient who told me he could never even think about | | | | These types of programs have been studied for |
| quitting smoking. He thought this because his mom and | | | | years and years and consistently average a 20% |
| dad were lifelong smokers who were unable to | | | | success rate. That's nearly a six-fold improvement |
| successfully quit, in spite of numerous quit attempts. He | | | | over cold turkey. Yet, the stigma of "counseling" will |
| felt he was doomed to become a lifelong smoker as | | | | prevent people from drastically changing their lives for |
| well. | | | | the better. Others fear the cost of such a program |
| Many smokers feel this way. They may focus in on a | | | | may break their bank. However, the cost data clearly |
| single reason as to why they cannot quit, rather than | | | | show that group sessions are the single most |
| finding bigger and more important reasons to quit. My | | | | cost-effective smoking cessation intervention available. |
| patient could have taken the approach that it was | | | | This figures in the dramatic success rate, which then |
| more important to break the cycle of smoking in his | | | | incorporates the cost-avoidance associated with no |
| family, before his kids followed in his footsteps. | | | | longer purchasing the tobacco products over the |
| This thought process is at the root of so many failed | | | | remaining expected lifetime of the former smoker. |
| attempts. People in general, make life decisions based | | | | The key elements of a successful behavioral program |
| on their own personal experiences or observations. It | | | | include an assessment of the stages of change, |
| can be said that someone who smokes, only knows | | | | identification of a person's barriers to quitting, as well |
| how to view life as a smoker. If they are one of the | | | | as, the development of a tailored cessation program |
| 85% of Americans addicted to nicotine, then they have | | | | for the individual and a plan to address relapse |
| likely gone out of their normal behavior patterns to | | | | prevention. Frequently, the designed smoking cessation |
| accommodate that addiction. In fact, their primary | | | | plan will incorporate the use of pharmaceutical stop |
| coping mechanism is to light up another cigarette. As a | | | | smoking aids. Interestingly, the drug companies have |
| counselor told me one time, "normal people don't do | | | | taken notice and many now offer a patient-support |
| that." His point was, a person cannot use their coping | | | | program with their smoking cessation products. |
| mechanism if their coping mechanism is what they're | | | | I know, smokers stop on their own all the time. Many |
| addicted to. The vast majority of smokers are simply | | | | even stay smoke-free for a lifetime after quitting cold |
| ill-equipped to handle the adversity associated with | | | | turkey. However, many, many more quit when they |
| stopping on their own. This is evidenced by the very | | | | get a little help. Do yourself and everyone around you |
| low success rate (3 - 5.5%) seen with quitting cold | | | | a favor and follow their success stories. Enroll in a |
| turkey. | | | | smoking cessation program or seek professional |
| The alternative is to get some help. Most of us are | | | | advice. It may cost you more than a few dollars if you |
| taught from childhood to be independent and | | | | don't. |
| self-reliant. If given the choice between asking for | | | | |