Quitting Smoking or Smokeless Tobacco
Quitting tobacco (tobacco cessation) is a lot like losing weight. It takes a strong commitment over a long time.
For people who smoke cigarettes, the quitting process is known as smoking cessation. But quitting one tobacco product is a lot like quitting another. For example, quitting smokeless tobacco can be a lot like quitting smoking. Both products contain nicotine and involve the physical, mental, and emotional parts of addiction.
Many of the ways to handle the mental hurdles of quitting are the same, no matter which tobacco products you use.
Where to start
It's best to talk with your doctor about a plan that's right for you. Talking to a pharmacist might be helpful, too. Don't forget to check with your insurance company to see what they cover for quit programs and products. You can also learn more about taking the first steps here: Planning Your Quit Day.
Do quit programs really work?
As you look into different quit programs, you may want to ask about each program’s success rate and the methods they use to help people quit . Success rates are hard to figure out for many reasons. Not all quit programs define success in the same way. Find out more about the goals of each program and how they measure success.
For example, you can ask these questions:
- Does success mean a person isn’t using tobacco at the end of the program? After 3 months? 6 months? 1 year?
- Does using tobacco less (rather than stopping completely) count as success?
- What is the program's success rate?
- What kind of follow-up is done to confirm the success rate?
Quitting is hard. Studies show that rates of quitting without any help are only about 4% to 7%. But many quit programs report higher rates of quitting among those who complete their program. So, finding a program that fits your needs can make a difference.
What about medicines to help me quit?
For many people trying to quit cigarettes, combining prescription medicines and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can work better than using just one. There may also be some benefit to using medicines when you’re quitting smokeless tobacco.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what might work best for you. Ask your insurance company about coverage for these medicines as well.
Can e-cigarettes help me quit tobacco?
E-cigarettes are not approved by the FDA as aids to help stop smoking or using smokeless tobacco. This is because there’s not enough research yet on the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes.
In contrast, there is a large body of evidence clearly showing that FDA-approved medications are a safe and effective way to help people quit smoking, especially when combined with counseling.
What can I do to increase my chances of quitting?
Support is a key part of a quit plan. Along with quit programs, counseling and other types of emotional support show success rates higher than medicines alone. Behavioral and supportive therapies may increase success rates even further. They can also help you stay tobacco-free.
Check the package insert of any product you use to see if the manufacturer provides free telephone-based counseling. There are also free Quitlines offered by different organizations. Talk to a health care provider or contact American Cancer Society to find free telephone-based counseling.
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- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
American Cancer Society. Cancer prevention and early detection facts & figures, 2023-2024. Accessed at https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/cancer-prevention-and-early-detection-facts-and-figures/2024-cped-files/cped-2024-cff.pdf on August 26, 2024.
Boccio M et al. Telephone-based coaching. American Journal of Health Promotion. 2017;31(12):136-142.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How to Quit Smoking. Accessed at https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/quit-smoking/index.html on August 26, 2024.
Rigotti N. Overview of smoking cessation management in adults. In, UpToDate, Post TW (Ed). Accessed at uptodate.com on August 27, 2024.
Rigotti N, Reddy KR. Vaping and e-cigarettes. In, UpToDate, Post TW (Ed). Accessed at uptodate.com on August 27, 2024.
US Department of Health and Human Services. What you need to know about quitting smoking: Advice from the Surgeon General. Hhs.gov. Accessed at https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/2020-cessation-sgr-consumer-guide.pdf on August 26, 2024.
US Preventive Services Task Force. Tobacco smoking cessation in adults, including pregnant women: Behavioral and pharmacotherapy interventions. 2021. Accessed at https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/document/RecommendationStatementFinal/tobacco-use-in-adults-and-pregnant-women-counseling-and-interventions on August 26, 2024.
Last Revised: October 28, 2024
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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