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Methods for Stopping Cigarette Smoking
Excerpt
The importance of quitting cigarette smoking cannot be overemphasized. Smoking is "a causal or facilitating factor in the development of lung and bladder cancer, coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis" (1) and is widely recognized as the greatest single cause of premature, preventable death (2). Yet, 30 years after the first widely published reports of the adverse impact smoking has on health, millions of Americans continue to smoke.
Ninety percent of smokers would like to quit (3), and an estimated 15% attempt to quit each year (4). Despite nicotine's powerful addictive properties (5-7), some smokers succeed in
Article and Author Information
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↵* This paper was authored by Suzanne Stone and Karen J. Perlmutter, and was developed for the Health and Public Policy Committee by the Health Care Delivery Subcommittee: Charles E. Lewis, M.D., Chairman; Beverly C. Payne, M.D.; William A. Reynolds, M.D.; Lynn B. Tepley, M.D.; Marvin Turck, M.D.; James A. Curtin, M.D. Members of the Health and Public Policy Committee for the 1985-86 term include Edwin P. Maynard III, M.D.; Chairman Boy Frame, M.D.; Charles E. Lewis, M.D.; Paul D. Stolley, M.D.; Richard G. Farmer, M.D.; John M. Eisenberg, M.D.; Palcolm L. Peterson, M.D.; William L. Hughes, M.D.; John R. Hogness, M.D.; Helen L. Smits, M.D.; and Richard J. Reitemeier, M.D. This paper was adopted by the Board of Regents on 9 April 1986.
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▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Linda Johnson White; Division of Scientific Activities, Health and Public Policy Committee, American College of Physicians, 4200 Pine Street; Philadelphia, PA 19104.
- © 1986 American College of Physicians
