Research: Want to Quit Smoking? Do It All at Once

New research on smoking cessation was conducted at the University of Oxford in the UK. The results, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, indicate that successful smoking cessation is more effective when done immediately rather than gradually.

Approximately 700 participants took part in one of two smoking cessation programs: gradual cessation or immediate cessation. Participants were provided with nicotine replacement options, including nicotine patches, nicotine gum, or nicotine spray, for the duration of the trial.

After four weeks, participants underwent a breath test to detect nicotine as an indicator of successful cessation. The findings showed that 49% of those who quit smoking immediately were successful, compared to 40% of those who reduced their smoking gradually.

The researchers concluded that “the findings indicate that the safer method for quitting smoking is to stop all at once rather than gradually. In most cases, cessation programs already adopt this approach.”

The reason, they explain, is that to quit smoking successfully, the desire to smoke must be “switched off” in the brain. In contrast, when smoking is reduced gradually, the craving continually seeks to increase the dosage in order to achieve satisfaction.

According to expert estimates, approximately 8,000 people die annually as a result of smoking. About 700 of them are non-smokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke in their environments.