New Study Shows Many Unplanned Quit Smoking Attempts are Successful
Data published in the journal, Nicotine and Tobacco Research, shows that many U.S. quit attempts are unplanned and can be a successful route to cessation. In the study, almost 40 percent of subjects reported that their most recent quit attempt started without any advance planning, suggesting that for some smokers, setting an advance quit date may not be as necessary as once thought.
While a period of planning prior to quitting has long been thought to allow smokers time to prepare themselves for their quit attempt, the study explores the various reasons as well as demographic and psychographic data which may contribute to a smoker deciding to quit spontaneously.
“The study examines the possibility that while quit attempts may seem like spontaneous efforts on the surface, they may actually be the result of prolonged subconscious dissatisfaction with or concern about one’s smoking. The results do not discredit planning out a quit attempt, however, a smoker needs to determine what may be the best approach to ensure long-term cessation,” said Dr. Saul Shiffman, professor in the departments of psychology and pharmaceutical science at the University of Pittsburgh and study co-author. “All smokers should consider ways to manage tough situations such as cravings and withdrawal symptoms to ensure long-term success.”
Smokers who make an unplanned quit attempt can improve their chances significantly by getting help and support from proven stop smoking tools such as therapeutic nicotine products like Nicorette(R), NicoDerm(R) CQ(R) and Commit(R). Consistent with their FDA-approved labeling, therapeutic nicotine products help reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms, including nicotine craving, associated with quitting smoking. Smokers who quit spontaneously can also access therapeutic nicotine medicines which are available over the counter without a doctor’s prescription at more than 35,000 retail outlets.
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