(Ivanhoe Newswire) For smokers who are having trouble kicking the habit,
science is working to find help. Although it’s still in the very early
development stage, research on an antinicotine vaccine is in preliminary trials.
The vaccine stimulates the immune system to develop antinicotine antibodies.
Another possibility involves using an individual’s genetic profile to tailor a
treatment specific to them.
Right now in the United States 70 percent of those who smoke say they want to
quit. 45 percent try and only 5 percent succeed. Relapse is also common. These
numbers underline the severity of nicotine’s addictive properties.
Dr. Dorothy Hatsukami of the Tobacco Use Research Center of the University of
Minnesota and colleagues took part in a Seminar. They are looking at the
effectiveness of current treatments like counseling, problem solving, coping and
motivational skills and a wide range of nicotine replacement therapies.
Researchers say nicotine replacement therapies can increase quit rates two to
three fold. The quit success rates are also good for those who combine
treatments, like using both a nicotine patch and nicotine gum.
They went on to say that there is limited benefit from cutting down. Those who
try tend to inhale more deeply which doesn’t substantially decrease the toxic
effect.
While the solutions are pursued, the authors wrote, “Nicotine or tobacco
addiction should be treated as a chronic disorder. Treatment can need persistent
efforts to try to assist tobacco users in their attempts at quitting. Relapse
should be seen as a probable event.”
Worldwide, 1.2 billion people smoke and half of them will die of tobacco related
diseases. The doctors conclude the international medical community should make
treating tobacco dependence a high priority in their practices and lobby their
governments to implement the guidelines of the Framework Convention on Tobacco
Control.
SOURCE: The Lancet, June 14, 2008
