Smoking cessation therapy

Abstract

Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. The increased use of tobacco is one of the greatest public health threats. It is currently responsible for the death of one in ten adults worldwide. Half the people that smokes today, that are about 650 million people will eventually be killed by tobacco. In India, nearly 200 million people use various forms of tobacco including more than 110 million who smoke. Tobacco use is much more prevalent among men than among women. It is more prevalent in rural areas than in urban areas among both men and women. The main reasons why people want to stop smoking are obvious: concern about health –their own, their family and the money. Many people also recognize that smoking is deeply unpleasant habit. Tobacco addiction is a chronic disease that often requires multiple attempts to quit. Although some smokers are able to quit without help, many others need assistance. Nicotine addiction is perhaps the commonest chronic disease in the developed world. In order to improve smoking cessation rates, more effective treatments are needed. Both behavioural interventions (counselling) and medication can help smokers quit; but the combination of medication with counseling is more effective than either alone.