The Problems with Stopping Smoking Gradually

When most people start to consider quitting smoking they inevitably begin to do research on different quitting methods. They may consider hypnosis, replacement products, nicotine patches or nicotine gum, and many other methods. For those that believe they can do kick the habit themselves there are usually only two options, cutting back or quitting cold turkey.

Those that choose to cut back gradually do so in order to minimize nicotine withdrawal symptoms. That is the major positive in choosing this method, though the minor positives should not be ignored. They include having more time to get acclimated to the change in lifestyle from smoker to nonsmoker, suffering fewer and less intense urges over time, and having more time to find replacement behaviors.

This option does have some major drawbacks when compared to quitting cold turkey though. Around 90% of smokers that quit for the long haul do so by going cold turkey, which means only 10% of smokers that stay away from smoking over the long term do so by cutting back gradually. This includes those who use nicotine substitution products like gums and patches.

On top of this quitting gradually requires a greater commitment in that the quitter has to commit to reducing his or her nicotine intake slowly over a long period of time. One slip can spell disaster for weeks of work and the entire process may have to be started all over.

Lastly, a savvy consumer has to question the claims made by the nicotine gum and patch producers. They are many times the same companies that are selling the cigarettes. Do they really want you to quit smoking? It would hurt their bottom line to lose loyal customers, so why would they make products that are highly successful at helping people quit smoking? I am not saying that these products do not work, I am saying that I doubt they work as well as they should. It would be bad business to help your customer base end its dependency on your product.

Quitting cold turkey is by far the most successful method of smoking cessation around. The majority of long term ex-smokers got that way by going cold turkey and is by far the best choice for almost everyone.

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