Every smoker has a different reason for their continued addiction. Some enjoy the social side of smoking, some enjoy the act of smoking itself, and some hang on to the much derided concept of smoking being “cool” and “rebellious”. However, the main reason most smokers continue their habit is down to a fear of quitting. Sitcom and drama writers have long relied on stories about their characters quitting smoking, usually for comedic effect. The general... 

In this life, some things just go together. Two events, things or objects that seem so synonymous with one another it’s hard to imagine them functioning apart. When you think of one part of the double act, thoughts and memories of the other immediately come to mind. Yes, sometimes two things are so closely linked it’s hard to even then of them as separate. When it comes to smoking, most people immediately associate the habit with lung cancer.... 

When it comes to quitting smoking, to increase the chances of success, many people turn to nicotine replacement therapy. This therapy, via a range of methods, is designed to counteract the physical withdrawals and cravings that are involved in smoking cessation. The most well known forms of nicotine replacement therapy are nicotine gum and patches. These are largely available from most pharmacies and even supermarkets. However, they are not without their side... 

When it comes to quitting smoking, one of the most frequently used ways to ease the problems of withdrawal is nicotine gum. The gum is said to help quell cravings, allowing the smoker to adjust to a cigarette-free life without the long running associated problems. Nicotine gum contains a nicotine compared called nicotine polacrilex, which is said to have a potent effect on any cravings. Nicotine gum, however, should not be chewed like normal chewing gum –... 

Nicotine patches are perhaps the most common form of nicotine replacement therapy, designed the ease the discomfort of physical withdrawal when a smoker decides to quit cigarettes. Unlike other methods which work on satisfying an instant craving, patches are designed to continually release nicotine for the duration of wear, which hopefully reduces the chances of an intense craving. Nicotine patches are quite large and resemble a large Band Aid or plaster.... 

While using any form of nicotine replacement therapy – such as gum, patches or lozenges – means you have around a 50% better chance of quitting smoking than when going cold turkey, replacement therapy does have it’s problems. The biggest of these has always been in the cases of particularly heavy smokers, who find the relatively low levels of nicotine used in most replacement therapies to be insufficient. This means their cravings are not dealt with... 

With most aids to stopping smoking, the emphasis is placed on eradicating the craving for nicotine by introducing a period of nicotine replacement therapy. This comes in many forms, from the standard patches and gum to the lesser known nasal spray and lozenges. While using these methods of nicotine replacement therapy almost doubles the chances of total cessation of smoking, these methods do very little to help the other problems of quitting smoking. While... 

One of the biggest mistakes smokers make when trying to give up is to go it alone. This is both in terms of trying to quit “cold turkey” – i.e. not using any form of nicotine replacement therapy – and by not seeking help and advice from others. It is estimated that if a smoker goes on a course of nicotine replacement therapy and has group therapy with a qualified counsellor, their chances of stopping smoking for good are as high as 90%. Unfortunately,... 

The first point here may seem like an obvious one, but it does need to be stated. To successfully quit smoking, you genuinely need to want to do it. There are many reasons and motivations that make people want to quit, but the pressure needs to come from inside. If you are simply stopping to make someone else happy, the chances of you succeeding are slim. You have to find your own motivation and your own desire to really kick the habit once and for all. If... 

Perhaps the most effective methods of nicotine replacement therapy are the oral ones, such as gum. This is due to their efficacy and speed. When nicotine is absorbed through the lining of the mouth, it hits the blood stream extremely quickly and is therefore able to help cease cravings. Thankfully, there are other options and they are just as effective as their better known colleagues. The first option is microtabs. These work like a small tablet, and contain...