Patients in my practice who have been addicted to illicit drugs often report to me their surprise that it was easier for them to overcome their drug habit than their smoking habit. There are two reasons for this. First, people fail to recognize the highly addictive quality of nicotine. Second, because smoking has not been an illegal activity practiced only in special, private circumstances, it is a habit that becomes enmeshed in the fabric of our daily lives and activities. Finally, until recently it has been an activity which was reinforced socially as a socially approved or sophisticated habit.
Some people are successful in stopping smoking on their own.
Often this is not the case. With the increasing evidence of the health risks associated with smoking and with the increasing inconvenience of the habit due to social disapproval there has been much interest recently in forms of professional help to stop smoking. The use of gum or skin patches containing nicotine has been one medical approach. When the patient stops smoking, it provides the replacement of nicotine into the body. The theory behind this approach is to gradually reduce the amount of nicotine replaced until none is provided.