Why Should I Treat Tobacco Dependence?

[Guest guest]

Tobacco use as a true drug dependence

With 70 percent of U.S. smokers seeing a physician each year and many having

contact with a dentist, nurse, physician assistant, pharmacist or other

healthcare professional, clinicians are uniquely poised to intervene with

patients who use tobacco. Moreover, 70% of smokers report wanting to quit and

44% make at least one quit attempt each year. Finally, smokers who are advised

to quit by a physician and those who received cessation counseling from a nurse

are 50% more likely to make a quit attempt than those who do not receive such

counseling. These data suggest that most smokers are interested in quitting,

clinicians are frequently in contact with smokers, and clinicians have high

credibility with smokers.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/583425

Blessings and good luck in quitting smoking,

Lottie