Stop Smoking Aids - Choose Wisely and Win

Smoking retains it's popularity in the United States despite all the Surgeon General's warnings and tobacco company lawsuits. Roughly a quarter of all Americans are still smoking. In many parts of the United States, smoking is as part of the mainstream culture as baseball and apple pie. Why does this past-time enjoy such esteem in today's day and age? That is a great question and one that has a pretty good, if not complicated answer.



Currently, there are many stop smoking aids, methods or products on the market. Everything from electric cigarettes to lasers. But when you get past the hype and look at the science of smoking cessation, you are left with a very stark reality, low success rates. Let's look at what's called the front line methods for smoking cessation.



The first category can be called non-pharmacologic means. This includes quitting cold turkey, behavior modification, and support groups/counseling. Quitting cold turkey, although the preferred method of quitting by most smokers, offers the lowest success rate at 3%. Group counseling and behavior modification has the highest success rate, right around 20%.



The second category would then be pharmacological interventions. Here is where you see nicotine replacement therapy, like nicotine gum, the patch, the nasal spray, etc. You'll also find Zyban and Chantix in this category. The success rate found with nicotine replacement is about equal to what is found with Zyban. This rate is basically double that of quitting cold turkey. Chantix on the other hand, boasts a success rate above 20%. However, Chantix has been required by the FDA to place a warning label on each box dispensed. The label basically warns the consumer that some who take Chantix, have experienced erratic and bazaar behavior. Many who want to quit smoking may not be willing to take that chance, in spite of the potential upside in success. The last member of this group is the placebo medication. This group wouldn't be classified as a front line method, but it is a pharmacological intervention. This is where someone takes a legitimate medication with a very real medical use but offers it up as a stop smoking aid in an "off-label" manner. In other words, they may take some benign medication used to dry up secretions, and market it as a stop smoking shot. So it is no longer being used for the purpose stated on its label, but rather is now being used off-label. The consumer then receives this medication thinking they are getting some new smoking cure. This idea is so powerful, it creates a very real placebo effect in their mind. The success rates for off-label or placebo medications is thought to be about equal to that of quitting cold turkey, as you would expect. However, there are no clinical studies that evaluate these medications for smoking cessation in which derive accurate data. Therefore, the consumer is at the mercy of the advertising departments.



The final category is labeled alternative methods. This sort of catch-all group is where you find hypnosis, acupuncture, lasers and herbal or natural remedies. These methods might have a basis in non-traditional science and certainly have helped people to stop smoking. But there is sometimes no rhyme or reason as to whether it will or will not work; which, I suppose, doesn't make them much different than any other method. Like placebo meds, there are no studied success rates with these methods and there are no clinical studies to quote statistics from. There is a segment of the population that will find success by using one of these methods, but most experts would agree it's similar to or less than that of quitting cold turkey.



After looking at these success rates, it becomes easy to see why smoking is still so prevalent in our society. Many believe the success rates remain low because people are unwilling to make the necessary behavioral changes and/or are not really serious about quitting. Many are fed misinformation when they search for "easy ways to stop smoking" on the Internet. Too often people buy into a product or method because it offers them a "magic bullet" to stop smoking. However, they are not emotionally or mentally prepared for the grind that is about to take place in their brain.

Stop Smoking Aids - Choose Wisely and Win

Smoking retains it's popularity in the United States despite all the Surgeon General's warnings and tobacco company lawsuits. Roughly a quarter of all Americans are still smoking. In many parts of the United States, smoking is as part of the mainstream culture as baseball and apple pie. Why does this past-time enjoy such esteem in today's day and age? That is a great question and one that has a pretty good, if not complicated answer.



Currently, there are many stop smoking aids, methods or products on the market. Everything from electric cigarettes to lasers. But when you get past the hype and look at the science of smoking cessation, you are left with a very stark reality, low success rates. Let's look at what's called the front line methods for smoking cessation.



The first category can be called non-pharmacologic means. This includes quitting cold turkey, behavior modification, and support groups/counseling. Quitting cold turkey, although the preferred method of quitting by most smokers, offers the lowest success rate at 3%. Group counseling and behavior modification has the highest success rate, right around 20%.



The second category would then be pharmacological interventions. Here is where you see nicotine replacement therapy, like nicotine gum, the patch, the nasal spray, etc. You'll also find Zyban and Chantix in this category. The success rate found with nicotine replacement is about equal to what is found with Zyban. This rate is basically double that of quitting cold turkey. Chantix on the other hand, boasts a success rate above 20%. However, Chantix has been required by the FDA to place a warning label on each box dispensed. The label basically warns the consumer that some who take Chantix, have experienced erratic and bazaar behavior. Many who want to quit smoking may not be willing to take that chance, in spite of the potential upside in success. The last member of this group is the placebo medication. This group wouldn't be classified as a front line method, but it is a pharmacological intervention. This is where someone takes a legitimate medication with a very real medical use but offers it up as a stop smoking aid in an "off-label" manner. In other words, they may take some benign medication used to dry up secretions, and market it as a stop smoking shot. So it is no longer being used for the purpose stated on its label, but rather is now being used off-label. The consumer then receives this medication thinking they are getting some new smoking cure. This idea is so powerful, it creates a very real placebo effect in their mind. The success rates for off-label or placebo medications is thought to be about equal to that of quitting cold turkey, as you would expect. However, there are no clinical studies that evaluate these medications for smoking cessation in which derive accurate data. Therefore, the consumer is at the mercy of the advertising departments.



The final category is labeled alternative methods. This sort of catch-all group is where you find hypnosis, acupuncture, lasers and herbal or natural remedies. These methods might have a basis in non-traditional science and certainly have helped people to stop smoking. But there is sometimes no rhyme or reason as to whether it will or will not work; which, I suppose, doesn't make them much different than any other method. Like placebo meds, there are no studied success rates with these methods and there are no clinical studies to quote statistics from. There is a segment of the population that will find success by using one of these methods, but most experts would agree it's similar to or less than that of quitting cold turkey.



After looking at these success rates, it becomes easy to see why smoking is still so prevalent in our society. Many believe the success rates remain low because people are unwilling to make the necessary behavioral changes and/or are not really serious about quitting. Many are fed misinformation when they search for "easy ways to stop smoking" on the Internet. Too often people buy into a product or method because it offers them a "magic bullet" to stop smoking. However, they are not emotionally or mentally prepared for the grind that is about to take place in their brain.

Stop Smoking Aids - Choose Wisely and Win

Smoking retains it's popularity in the United States despite all the Surgeon General's warnings and tobacco company lawsuits. Roughly a quarter of all Americans are still smoking. In many parts of the United States, smoking is as part of the mainstream culture as baseball and apple pie. Why does this past-time enjoy such esteem in today's day and age? That is a great question and one that has a pretty good, if not complicated answer.



Currently, there are many stop smoking aids, methods or products on the market. Everything from electric cigarettes to lasers. But when you get past the hype and look at the science of smoking cessation, you are left with a very stark reality, low success rates. Let's look at what's called the front line methods for smoking cessation.



The first category can be called non-pharmacologic means. This includes quitting cold turkey, behavior modification, and support groups/counseling. Quitting cold turkey, although the preferred method of quitting by most smokers, offers the lowest success rate at 3%. Group counseling and behavior modification has the highest success rate, right around 20%.



The second category would then be pharmacological interventions. Here is where you see nicotine replacement therapy, like nicotine gum, the patch, the nasal spray, etc. You'll also find Zyban and Chantix in this category. The success rate found with nicotine replacement is about equal to what is found with Zyban. This rate is basically double that of quitting cold turkey. Chantix on the other hand, boasts a success rate above 20%. However, Chantix has been required by the FDA to place a warning label on each box dispensed. The label basically warns the consumer that some who take Chantix, have experienced erratic and bazaar behavior. Many who want to quit smoking may not be willing to take that chance, in spite of the potential upside in success. The last member of this group is the placebo medication. This group wouldn't be classified as a front line method, but it is a pharmacological intervention. This is where someone takes a legitimate medication with a very real medical use but offers it up as a stop smoking aid in an "off-label" manner. In other words, they may take some benign medication used to dry up secretions, and market it as a stop smoking shot. So it is no longer being used for the purpose stated on its label, but rather is now being used off-label. The consumer then receives this medication thinking they are getting some new smoking cure. This idea is so powerful, it creates a very real placebo effect in their mind. The success rates for off-label or placebo medications is thought to be about equal to that of quitting cold turkey, as you would expect. However, there are no clinical studies that evaluate these medications for smoking cessation in which derive accurate data. Therefore, the consumer is at the mercy of the advertising departments.



The final category is labeled alternative methods. This sort of catch-all group is where you find hypnosis, acupuncture, lasers and herbal or natural remedies. These methods might have a basis in non-traditional science and certainly have helped people to stop smoking. But there is sometimes no rhyme or reason as to whether it will or will not work; which, I suppose, doesn't make them much different than any other method. Like placebo meds, there are no studied success rates with these methods and there are no clinical studies to quote statistics from. There is a segment of the population that will find success by using one of these methods, but most experts would agree it's similar to or less than that of quitting cold turkey.



After looking at these success rates, it becomes easy to see why smoking is still so prevalent in our society. Many believe the success rates remain low because people are unwilling to make the necessary behavioral changes and/or are not really serious about quitting. Many are fed misinformation when they search for "easy ways to stop smoking" on the Internet. Too often people buy into a product or method because it offers them a "magic bullet" to stop smoking. However, they are not emotionally or mentally prepared for the grind that is about to take place in their brain.

How to Choose a Workplace Stop Smoking Program

If you are thinking about offering your employees a program to stop smoking, how do you choose the program that is best for your company? There are so many options out there-from hypnosis to drugs like Chantix to teleseminar classes. How can your company get smokers and chewers to participate without a complete revolt or cranky employees?



When choosing the right stop-smoking program for your company, your company could provide a variety of options to help your employees quit smoking. Research has shown that offering more than one smoking cessation program tends to confuse and overwhelm employees. If offered too many choices, they don't join any of the stop-smoking programs.



Instead of offering a confusing array of choices, consider having a stop-smoking professional help your company assess the needs of your employees and offer advice on which stop-smoking group or program would be best. I often do this for my clients, at no charge and no obligation.



To get the best-possible results from a smoking cessation program, be sure to choose one that focuses on making behavioral changes over time, because smoking is both a psychological and a physical condition. In fact, most recommended programs take up to six weeks to prepare a smoker to quit.



Smokers and chewers need time to detoxify from nicotine. Smokers and chewers also need time to change their behaviors, routines, and habits. It takes at least twenty-one days to break a habit.



How do you encourage your employees to take advantage of your smoking cessation program?



Keep in mind that even if you've chosen the best smoking cessation program around, it is often hard to get smokers to take advantage of it, even though they might want to quit smoking or chewing.



Most smokers say that a lack of time and money are the biggest reasons they don't want to participate. So what can you do to get your employees to commit to quitting smoking?



The best way to solve the time issue is to choose a class system that is extremely convenient and flexible for everyone. Teleseminar-based quit smoking programs like the one offered by Nicotine Solutions are ideal because they can be attended from just about anywhere. Classes can be run on-site during lunch hours or after work as well.



Some companies decide to pay 100% of the costs of a smoking cessation for their employees. But this can backfire because the employee does not have a personal investment in the program. In fact, programs that do not cost the employee anything are sometimes viewed as worthless. If your company truly wants to pay the entire tuition for the quit smoking program, you can certainly do that or another option is you can reimburse all (or part) of the costs after the employee has remained smoke-free for a set amount of time. Say, six months or a year. Or you can offer partial payment up front. Then reimburse the balance at the end of a set period of time.



The final way I'm going to suggest you handle the money objection is also the one I've found to be most effective. Simply create liberal payroll deduction plans to cover the tuition of the stop-smoking program that way the student has a personal investment in the process, and it doesn't cost your company anything to help smokers quit.



Whatever stop smoking program you decide to offer, don't forget that in order for it to be a success, you need to do more than just put it in place. Proper planning, promotion, and follow-up are all required if you want you employees to participate.

The Best Stop Smoking Aid - How to Choose the Best Stop Smoking Aid For You

Presumably the best stop smoking aid of all would be one that works every time. Unfortunately, no one has come up with such a thing because the problem isn't actually smoking. It's smokers! Smoking, after all, is pretty much the same wherever you go: you set fire to some cured tobacco leaf and then inhale and exhale the resulting poisonous fumes. Bob Newhart pointed out the absurdity of this decades ago in his classic monologue, "Introducing Tobacco to Civilization."



This being the case, if you are setting about searching for the best stop smoking aid, I would suggest that you stop thinking about whether the "aid" in question works, but instead ask yourself about the kind of person you are. For example, there are a number of very good books on the market to help people quit smoking. But that's not for you if you're not a great reader. One page a day isn't likely to get the message through to you! So, first, look at the format of any stop smoking aid.



If you like listening in your car, for example, don't buy a hypnosis recording! If that's the kind of stop smoking aid you want, you must be prepared to follow its instructions - no doubt to relax and to take some quiet time. Not for you if you're the busy, restless type!



Nicotine replacement has an interesting track record and history as a stop smoking aid. I'm talking about patches, nicotine chewing gum and nasal sprays, for example. Originally, nicotine chewing gum was designed to help wartime submariners not suffer nicotine withdrawal whilst submerged, so it wasn't a stop smoking aid at all. If you fear withdrawal, (which is actually painless and fast), then these replacement ideas might be for you, but they are based on the premise that you're so addicted to nicotine that you need another means of administering it. They don't actually get you free, and you're still putting a deadly poison into your body, albeit in slightly more controlled doses. They do, however, change your routines around smoking, so you may feel that you are ready to ditch nicotine altogether.



There remains a range of gadgets, gimmicks and therapies too vast and in some cases too wacky to mention here. But before closing this article, there is one tool that is without the slightest doubt the best stop smoking aid of all. That aid is your ability to make decisions.



Decide today that enough is enough. You are not going to poison yourself, risk horrendous diseases or inflict misery on your loved ones any more. Decide right now that you are going to get free no matter what. The word "de-cision" means "to cut off from" - that is to cut off from all other possibilities.



Once you are decided all you need do is return to the start of this article and ask yourself what kind of person you are. And then you can decide on what will be the best stop smoking aid for you.

Quit smoking-choose an alternative method

Is ready to quit cigarette smoking? Terrifying. There may be tons of different ways to quit smoking cigarettes. One of them is to go it alone and end up cold turkey. Basically you just decide to quit and do not use any additional aid to help you through the process. This particular method might work, but usually ends up spoiling for many individuals.



The additional choice is to use stop smoking aids as an alternative to cigarettes. You'll find two common approaches to do so. One is to use nicotine gum and the other way is to use nicotine patches. These solutions work, but there is a downside. You're still putting nicotine in your system.



But there is a much better choice!



You can find tablets and sprays can be used to replace nicotine with a normal solution which basically makes your body think that nicotine is always whenever it is not really. The reason for these work well because they assist come out cigarettes without all withdrawals, and at the same time, you're not putting nicotine in your system. Literally is the perfect solution.



Now not all stop smoking cigarette solutions can do this kind of thing and not all of them are great. You should ensure you do your own research before deciding. But, as an alternative to other methods, it can work for you. Questions to make sure you are certain harmful effects and always consult a doctor for advice if in doubt.

How to Choose a Workplace Stop Smoking Program

If you are thinking about offering your employees a program to stop smoking, how do you choose the program that is best for your company? There are so many options out there-from hypnosis to drugs like Chantix to teleseminar classes. How can your company get smokers and chewers to participate without a complete revolt or cranky employees?



When choosing the right stop-smoking program for your company, your company could provide a variety of options to help your employees quit smoking. Research has shown that offering more than one smoking cessation program tends to confuse and overwhelm employees. If offered too many choices, they don't join any of the stop-smoking programs.



Instead of offering a confusing array of choices, consider having a stop-smoking professional help your company assess the needs of your employees and offer advice on which stop-smoking group or program would be best. I often do this for my clients, at no charge and no obligation.



To get the best-possible results from a smoking cessation program, be sure to choose one that focuses on making behavioral changes over time, because smoking is both a psychological and a physical condition. In fact, most recommended programs take up to six weeks to prepare a smoker to quit.



Smokers and chewers need time to detoxify from nicotine. Smokers and chewers also need time to change their behaviors, routines, and habits. It takes at least twenty-one days to break a habit.



How do you encourage your employees to take advantage of your smoking cessation program?



Keep in mind that even if you've chosen the best smoking cessation program around, it is often hard to get smokers to take advantage of it, even though they might want to quit smoking or chewing.



Most smokers say that a lack of time and money are the biggest reasons they don't want to participate. So what can you do to get your employees to commit to quitting smoking?



The best way to solve the time issue is to choose a class system that is extremely convenient and flexible for everyone. Teleseminar-based quit smoking programs like the one offered by Nicotine Solutions are ideal because they can be attended from just about anywhere. Classes can be run on-site during lunch hours or after work as well.



Some companies decide to pay 100% of the costs of a smoking cessation for their employees. But this can backfire because the employee does not have a personal investment in the program. In fact, programs that do not cost the employee anything are sometimes viewed as worthless. If your company truly wants to pay the entire tuition for the quit smoking program, you can certainly do that or another option is you can reimburse all (or part) of the costs after the employee has remained smoke-free for a set amount of time. Say, six months or a year. Or you can offer partial payment up front. Then reimburse the balance at the end of a set period of time.



The final way I'm going to suggest you handle the money objection is also the one I've found to be most effective. Simply create liberal payroll deduction plans to cover the tuition of the stop-smoking program that way the student has a personal investment in the process, and it doesn't cost your company anything to help smokers quit.



Whatever stop smoking program you decide to offer, don't forget that in order for it to be a success, you need to do more than just put it in place. Proper planning, promotion, and follow-up are all required if you want you employees to participate.