Most patients want to quit – and think that willpower alone will get them there.

Nearly 2/3 of smokers were seriously considering quitting in the next 6 months – but only 6% are successful^10,36

A patient’s willpower to quit (resisting cravings and temptations) is critical to succeeding to quit. But, willpower alone is almost always not enough – counselling and pharmacotherapy significantly increase the chances of success.

There are things that you can do to help motivate a quit attempt and strategies patients can use so that they don’t need to rely on willpower alone:

1. Remind patients that smoking is a ‘bona fide’ addiction – not just a ‘bad habit.’

• Smoking needs to be viewed by patients and healthcare professionals as a medical condition that is best treated with medication and counselling
• But, patients often think that smoking is just a bad habit, and pride can get in the way of seeking help
• Remind patients that quitting is challenging, but with help, the chances of success increase so there is no reason to go at it alone
• Effective treatments are available: NRT plus counselling increases the chances of quitting successfully by nearly 4X vs. willpower alone¹²

2. Remind patients of the serious health consequences of smoking.

Key facts and figures on the impact of smoking:

• 85% of all new cases of lung cancer are caused by smoking¹¹
• Smoking causes 80-90% of COPD cases¹²
• 30% of all smoking-related deaths are from heart disease and stroke¹³
• Smokers are 30-40% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than non-smokers¹⁴
• Quitting smoking reduces the risk of developing lung and other cancers, COPD, and other serious diseases

3. Talk to every patient at every visit about smoking

• Even smokers who do not feel ready to quit, can quit (will expand on this a bit)
• Most smokers want their healthcare professional to talk to them about smoking, even if they don’t bring it up themselves
• Check in consistently about smoking

4. Ask if cost is a barrier

• More than 50% stated that cost of pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation was a barrier (2012 survey); coverage for smoking cessation treatments has expanded around the country

5. Customize treatment to the patient

• For patients who don’t feel that they have the willpower to quit abruptly: consider Reduce to Quit (will expand on this a bit)
• For smokers who have tried to quit, but relapsed, or are heavy smokers, consider Combination NRT
• For patients who need a hand-to-mouth sensation, consider specific NRT options (Inhaler)
• For patients who have strong cravings, especially first thing in the morning, consider rapid-acting NICORETTE® QuickMist® which starts to work on cravings in 30 seconds
  See patient case studies >

6. Provide practical tips to help them stay on track

Suggest the ‘4Ds’ to cope with nicotine withdrawal:

• Drink plenty of water – between 6 and 8 glasses per day, unless restricted by your physician.
• Delay for 5 to 7 minutes (particularly the first-morning cigarette). The urge should pass.
• Do something else. For example, do something with your hands (e.g., knit, Sudoku, games on your phone, etc.) or something relaxing (e.g., a calming bath).
• Deep breathing. This releases endorphins and may mimic the sensation of the first drag of a cigarette.

Other tips to suggest:

• Don’t bum or buy cigarettes
• Don’t go at it alone – especially when cravings are at a high (e.g., periods of stress)
• List out your sources of help (e.g., a close relative, a friend who successfully quit) and reach out to them for support
• Make a list of all the things you normally do when you smoke and to try changing just one or two of these routines
• Think positively: focusing on how far you’ve come, not how far you have to go
• Find support online from other smokers trying to quit on the Smokers’ Helpline website
• Carry a fast-acting NRT, such as gum, to help manage cravings and avoid relapse