Smoking Cessation Therapies and Programs

In 1982, U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop stated that cigarette smoking is the “chief, single, avoidable cause of death in our society and the most important public health issue of our time.” This statement remains true today, more than 25 years later—in the United States, cigarette smoking is responsible for approximately 440,000 deaths each year. Despite the well-established and well-publicized negative effects of smoking, approximately 1 in every 5 adult Americans smokes; of these, 70% would like to quit. Compared with decades ago, today's smokers have many effective therapies from which to choose when trying to reach their quitting goals. However, most smokers quit without assistance, despite the fact that smokers who receive assistance are substantially more likely to be successful. Both behavioral counseling ...