Because of the compelling addiction to tobacco and the success of the tobacco industry in recruiting new smokers to the ranks of the habituated, approximately 47 million Americans continue to smoke. Women are rapidly catching up with men. Most adult smokers say that they would like to quit, but because of lack of knowledge, inertia, or perhaps inadequate involvement by healthcare professionals, they neither try nor succeed in quitting. The purpose of this article is to present a pragmatic approach to smoking cessation. Smoking is a compelling addiction, as powerful as narcotic or alcohol abuse.
Smoking also contains a major social component.
Together, addiction as well as smoking with friends and in many social circumstances, pose potent challenges for smoking cessation. Most people quit on their own for socioeconomic or health reasons. The immediate social rewards are better odor of clothing and breath, and saving money. Avoiding premature wrinkles of the face is another payoff, which should be promoted in the young. Protecting the health of children, including aggravation of asthma, and childhood respiratory infections, is a motivating force for parents.