SMOKING CESSATION

Last night on television I saw one of the latest advertisements aimed at encouraging people who are smoking to quit. It highlighted the fact that most people who smoke have tried to quit at least once before. The reality is that people who smoke have multiple quit attempts ending in relapse before successfully quitting.

This is not surprising if you understand the addictive nature of tobacco and the physiological changes it causes in the body.

Tobacco dependence has been defined as “a chronic relapsing disease” and “nicotine addiction deserves medical treatment like any drug dependence or chronic disease” (Fiore et al,U.S Dept of Health and Human Services, June 2000). I certainly agree.

Figures from Quit 2009 show that 17.4% of Australians smoke on a daily basis. Again, here in Australia, tobacco is the largest cause of death and disease with estimates of greater than 15000 people dying each year. Most smokers’ wish that hey had never started smoking in the first place and would very much like to be able to stop for good.

Some people have made successful quit attempts on their own; others prefer a more supported approach. The key to quitting is wanting to give up smoking and finding an approach that is right for you. The message from the latest advertisement is to never give up trying to quit.

Manse Medical will be offering smoking cessation as part of its service in the near future.

For more information refer to our website and/or contact us here at Manse Medical on our toll free number 1800 184 828.

Lisa