Since ninety percent of smokers who are interested in quitting tobacco use will not attend the usual smoking-cessation classes, nurses must offer assistance to tobacco users at point of contact. Nurses should make every effort to help tobacco users during hospitalization, in out- patient departments, clinics, doctor's offices, schools, the workplace, rehabilitation facilities, and during home care to discontinue or modify tobacco use. Cardiac and pulmonary diseases and the other major tobacco-related causes of death are increasing. Although smoking prevalence has declined since the first Surgeon General's Report in 1964, approximately 46 million Americans continue to smoke cigarettes and another five million use other forms of tobacco.
Tobacco use is more prevalent in socioeconomically disadvantaged and underserved groups.
It is a major women's health problem and the number one cancer-linked killer of women. Clearly, smoking cessation and treatment for nicotine dependent individuals should be part of preventive health care in order to reduce overall health care costs. Nicotine is an addictive substance, according to the Surgeon General's 1988 Report on Nicotine Addiction. Nicotine is characterized by physical dependence when it is used regularly and at a set dosage. Nicotine dependence is listed as a disease in the International Classification of Diseases.