Lisa,
Let me first say that I am NOT pushing NRT as the only way or the best way to quit for everyone.
I was told by my counselor at The National Cancer Institute about the current statisics for long term success was higher with NRT that cold turkey. She was NOT pushing NRT but I wanted to know what the truth about the different methods. She gave me a lot of research, I do remember some studies showed it was 4 times more effective. Anyways here's a couple of links:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HealthA...ving/DG_4002727
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/...3&dopt=Abstract
The number to talk to a counselor at The National Cancer Institute is 1-800-784-8669 it's free and they will also send written material. They aren't going to push any one type of method to quit.
Here's the website
Just because NRT does not help some people is not to say that it doesn't work for everyone. That's why there's so many various methods to quit, the trick IMHO is to find what works for you and stick with it. Don't brush off anything, it might be just the thing that works for you. Who cares if someone else says it won't work, or it's a placebo or whatever they claim, bottom line is to find what works for you.
I'm familar with WHY QUIT and Joel and frankly find them to be too prejudice against NRT. All of the research data on that site is lifted to support that view point. They won't even let you join if you are quitting using an NRT, they kick out members if they confess to smoking a cigarette while quitting, etc. If that sort of thing works for you then by all means go for it with my blessings!!! I say do whatever works.
Some people quit successfully with herbs, homeopathic remedies, tobacco patches, meditation, hypnosis, therapy and other methods while people will claim that none of those methods work either. I say don't knock whatever someone wants to try. Who knows, that might be just the perfect thing for that person. (I tried everything on that list except the tobacco patch b/c I just saw that in the drug store the other day.) NRT helped me, that's not to say that I didn't learn from each of my experiences of not sticking with my quit.
Here's a link to a comprehensive list of government sites on quitting:
Gov research, pulications & help
Quote:
Here's a question to ask for all those who tell you they quit smoking using NRT products. How many of them are still using the NRT at 6 months? A year? According to the Nicotrol product, the consumer is supposed to be completely off the product within 16 weeks, but statistics show that a large percentage of users don't quit using the product and instead become chronic users of NRT; they haven't kicked their addiction, they just changed the delivery device of their drug of choice.
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Well that's right from the pages of Joel's rhetoric on Why Quit. I find it insulting. I am NOT on any NRT now. The majority of people on Quit net were not staying on them either.