Yesterday the 2008 update to the US Guidelines for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence was announced by Dr. Michael Fiore, Chairman of the review panel.
As expected, the update says that, apart from where contra-indicated: "Clinicicans should encourage (pharmaceutical quitting products) use by ALL patients attempting to quit smoking." But is this good advice or just another opportunity for drug companies to line their pockets still further? For example, Dr. Fiore's own financial ties to companies with pharmaceutical manufacturers are well-known, having been the subject of a front-page story in the Wall St. Journal (Feb 7, 2007).
The types of products that Dr. Fiore's team believe should be used by 'all patients' trying to quit include the nicotine patch and gum (which according to manufacturer Glaxo's own research have six-month success rates of 7%) and Chantix, which (without ongoing counselling and support) has a success rate of around 9% at 12 months and has been the subject of an FDA safety bulletin.
What's more, the recommendations specifically exclude counselling and education - well-known from clinical trials to be the most effective cessation tools - unless they are used in conjunction with medication. (As an aside here, I still can't get my head around calling a nicotine patch 'medication'. How can it be that the nicotine in a cigarette is an addictive poison, but the nicotine from a patch is 'medicine'? Go figure.)
The Allen Carr's Easyway method - a simple, single five-hour seminar - has been shown in independent clinical evaluations published in highly respected medical journals to have a six-month success rate approximately 10 times higher than nicotine replacement products, yet not only is this method not recommended by the panel, it is not even discussed.
It is tragic that smokers are continually told that they need a drug to stop doing a drug, when such wonderful, natural and effective alternatives are available. If you want to stop using nicotine without taking nicotine or other drugs, please visit us at http://www.theeasywaytostopsmoking.com
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