NRT may not be as effective as once thought

It’s January, and it’s more than likely that you or someone you know has made a new year’s resolution to give up smoking for good. However, forget stockpiling nicotine gum and patches, as it’s not the way to go if you want to give up smoking for good.

Recent research has shown that nicotine replacement therapies such as nicotine patches aren’t any more effective than people quitting simply through willpower alone.

The study was conducted by researchers from Harvard’s School of Public Health and the University of Massachusetts, who observed patients who gave up smoking between 2001 to 2006. During the study, many of the people who quit using nicotine replacement therapy, regardless of the amount of time they used the method for, had a similar relapse rate than those people who didn’t use any kind of treatment.

According to the Daily Mail, the NHS reports that it found that people who quit through willpower alone were more likely to stay off cigarettes than those who used nicotine replacement therapy.

The researchers commented on their findings, saying that although past research has shown the success of nicotine replacement therapy, the results were very different when observed in the general population.

The report on their findings were published in the online journal, Tobacco Control, and highlights the importance of an effective quit smoking regime, supplemented with plenty of support. Whether you choose to use nicotine replacement therapy, go ‘cold turkey’ or use other medications to help you give up, it’s still important to have enough motivation to ensure long term success.