Stop Smoking With Cues

[khusidr]

Smoking is responsible for nearly one-in-five deaths in the U.S.
While many people try to quit, most end up smoking again. But one therapy could help people quit for good.

50-million Americans smoke but many don't want to. Nine-out-of-10 smokers who do quit start again.

John Mucci understands. A smoker for 35 years, two packs a day but he hasn't had a cigarette in eight weeks.

John says "I wake up in the morning feeling 100 percent better than I did."
Many smoking cessation programs include two components -- counseling and nicotine replacement like the patch.
"The average smoker quits seven or eight times before they are finally successful for good." Doctor Thomas Brandon says that's why they are beginning to study a third component to help prevent relapse called cue exposure therapy.

Patients watch images on a screen and even hold and smell a cigarette.
Dr. Brandon says "what we are trying to do is speed up the process so when they encounter these cues out in the real world -- like a friend who is smoking -- it doesn't produce the arousal and craving to smoke; it's ho-hum by that point."

This therapy has been successful with patients with anxiety disorders such as phobias and it's working for John.
"Holding it, smelling it, it definitely causes a desire. There should be a temptation, and the idea is to cope with that temptation" John says.
A temptation or cue he can overcome now as a non-smoker.
This study is funded by the American Cancer Society.

Researchers plan on including 100 patients, but right now it is in the early stages with less than 20.

Doctors say it's too early to call it successful, but they are impressed with the outcomes so far.