Smoking cessation and treatment
Smoking cessation and treatment
Overview
Nicotine is extremely addictive and most smokers find it very hard to give up without help. About 5% of unaided quit attempts result in smokers giving up for good. Effective smoking cessation support can increase the chances of success more than fourfold.
Stop smoking support is a highly cost effective measure to improve health. In the UK, stopping smoking has been the single biggest factor in reducing deaths from heart disease, preventing nearly 30,000 heart disease deaths between 1981 and 2000.
The UK offers the world’s most comprehensive support for smokers to quit. NHS stop smoking services have been established throughout the country. These services offer practical support and pharmaceutical treatments on prescription to help smokers to give up.
Article 14 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control requires nations that have ratified the treaty to develop evidence-based guidelines to promote smoking cessation and treat tobacco dependence amongst smokers who want to quit. Under Article 14, governments are required to ensure that smoking cessation treatment is accessible and affordable.
ASH Smoking cessation webpage
Fact Sheet 09: Nicotine and Addiction
Fact Sheet 11: Stopping smoking: the benefits and aids to quitting
Fact Sheet 24: Stopping smoking: ASH’s 15 tips
Current Key Texts
Various authors (2005) Smoking Treatment Services In England: Implementation And Outcomes. Special Supplement Addiction 100(2) 1-91
Other Seminal Texts
WHO Europe (2001) WHO Evidence Based Recommendations on the Treatment of Tobacco Dependence. Copenhagen: WHO Europe (pdf file)
Royal College of Physicians. (2007) Harm reduction in nicotine addiction. Helping people who can’t quit. London: RCP (pdf file)
Royal College of Physicians (2000) Nicotine Addiction in Britain: A report of the Tobacco Advisory Group of the Royal College of Physicians. London: RCP
Raw M, McNeill A, West R (2000) Smoking cessation guidelines for health professionals: an update Thorax 55:987-999
Raw M, McNeill A, West R (1998) Smoking cessation guidelines for health professionals. A guide to effective smoking cessation interventions for the health care system. Thorax 53:suppl 5(1):S1-19
Parrott S, Godfrey C, Raw M, West R, McNeill A (1998) Guidance for commissioners on the cost-effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions. Thorax 53:suppl 5(2):S1-38
Useful websites
National Institute for Healthcare and Clinical Excellence
NHS site advising service providers and health professionals about recommendations for services. Features links to
Treatobacco
International collaboration of researchers and practitioners in the field of tobacco dependence. Summarises the evidence about smoking cessation treatments - including efficacy, safety, health impacts, economics and implementation.
Smoking in England
The Smoking Toolkit Study - Contains data collected from a monthly series of household surveys with smokers and recent ex-smokers. Data collection began in October 2006.
Go Smokefree
UK Government site with information about giving up smoking.
No Smoking Day
UK NGO site, including information on giving up smoking.
Cochrane Collaboration, Tobacco Addiction Group Abstracts
Links to abstracts of systematic reviews of the evidence about treatments for tobacco dependence.
