Best On national surveys, the probability of attempting to quit smoking and to succeed has been equally high among women and men since late 1970s or early 1980s. The majority of smokers who try to stop using tobacco reported doing so on their own, even though this is the least effective method. This pattern has changed somewhat in recent years with increased use of pharmacologic aids. Return to Top Intensive Clinical Interventions Intensive clinical interventions involve individual, group, or telephone counseling for multiple sessions. The most successful treatments are multi-component cognitive behavioral programs that incorporate strategies to prepare and motivate smokers to stop smoking.
Women are somewhat more likely than men to use intensive treatment programs.
Similarly, women have a stronger interest than men in smoking cessation groups that offer mutual support through a buddy system and in treatment meetings over a long period. Two other pharmacotherapies, Clonidine and the antidepressant Nortiptyline, have been recommended as second-line pharmacotherapies, but have not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for this indication smoking cessation. Pharmacologic approaches to smoking cessation raise a number of issues specific to women. Nevertheless, nicotine replacement has been shown to be more effective than placebo among women smokers and, thus, remains recommended for use. More research is needed to determine the effects of nicotine replacement therapy on pregnant women and their offspring.