Lately, everyone seems to have a collection of stop smoking tips. Even the tobacco companies offer programs and methods to stop smoking for those who are interested. There are good reasons for pushing people to quit.
Major health organizations, like the American Cancer Society, consider the 435,000 yearly deaths attributed to tobacco use preventable. If only people would quit smoking cigarettes and using other forms of tobacco or better yet, don't start.
In recent years, advertising campaigns that target teens have been banned. State laws make it illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to purchase cigarettes. And, in some states, you can be prosecuted for buying cigarettes for someone who is underage.
Sadly, recent surveys have shown that smoking is on the rise among young adults ages 18-24 and less than 3% of smokers in all age groups quit each year. We obviously need the collections of stop smoking tips and more effective methods to stop smoking.
A recent study published by the American Association for Cancer Research is interesting, but may not have practical applications. What if someone paid you to quit smoking?
179 smokers at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center were split into two groups. Both groups were offered a free smoking cessation program that consisted of classes, a written collection of stop smoking tips and information about methods to stop smoking such as nicotine replacement (patches, gums, etc.) and prescription medications.
One group was offered $20 for each class that they attended and a $100 bonus if they had quit smoking within 30 days of completing the program. No financial incentive was offered to the second group.
The results? 43.3% of those who were "paid" attended all of the classes and 25.8% actually quit smoking. Only 20.2% of the other group attended classes and only 12.2% quit. Researchers used urine tests to confirm that those who said they had quit were telling the truth.
What does this really tell us? The people who quit without any financial incentive probably really wanted to quit. If you read collections of stop smoking tips, as I have, you will see that one of the most important factors is the "desire" to quit.
If you really need financial incentive, look at how much you spend on cigarettes every day. Even if you smoke a pack a day or less, you are spending about $100 per month on cigarettes. Make a promise to yourself right now that if you can quit for a month, you will spend that $100 on something that you really want.
Nicotine patches and other methods to stop smoking are effective for some people, but the percentages are not much better than the 12.2% reported in the Philadelphia study. Studies report effectiveness ranging from 14-21% for nicotine replacement and prescription medications. Some studies show that hypnotherapy can be effective as much as 40% of the time.
Major health organizations, like the American Cancer Society, consider the 435,000 yearly deaths attributed to tobacco use preventable. If only people would quit smoking cigarettes and using other forms of tobacco or better yet, don't start.
In recent years, advertising campaigns that target teens have been banned. State laws make it illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to purchase cigarettes. And, in some states, you can be prosecuted for buying cigarettes for someone who is underage.
Sadly, recent surveys have shown that smoking is on the rise among young adults ages 18-24 and less than 3% of smokers in all age groups quit each year. We obviously need the collections of stop smoking tips and more effective methods to stop smoking.
A recent study published by the American Association for Cancer Research is interesting, but may not have practical applications. What if someone paid you to quit smoking?
179 smokers at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center were split into two groups. Both groups were offered a free smoking cessation program that consisted of classes, a written collection of stop smoking tips and information about methods to stop smoking such as nicotine replacement (patches, gums, etc.) and prescription medications.
One group was offered $20 for each class that they attended and a $100 bonus if they had quit smoking within 30 days of completing the program. No financial incentive was offered to the second group.
The results? 43.3% of those who were "paid" attended all of the classes and 25.8% actually quit smoking. Only 20.2% of the other group attended classes and only 12.2% quit. Researchers used urine tests to confirm that those who said they had quit were telling the truth.
What does this really tell us? The people who quit without any financial incentive probably really wanted to quit. If you read collections of stop smoking tips, as I have, you will see that one of the most important factors is the "desire" to quit.
If you really need financial incentive, look at how much you spend on cigarettes every day. Even if you smoke a pack a day or less, you are spending about $100 per month on cigarettes. Make a promise to yourself right now that if you can quit for a month, you will spend that $100 on something that you really want.
Nicotine patches and other methods to stop smoking are effective for some people, but the percentages are not much better than the 12.2% reported in the Philadelphia study. Studies report effectiveness ranging from 14-21% for nicotine replacement and prescription medications. Some studies show that hypnotherapy can be effective as much as 40% of the time.
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