A Look at Nicotine Replacement Therapy

Does it really make sense to drag out the misery of nicotine withdrawal? The pharmaceutical companies think so. But, I'm figuring that's because they are making billions of dollars keeping smokers addicted to nicotine. Yes, this highly addictive drug is being sold as a medicine, a therapy that will assist people in giving up cigarettes. These companies are convincing smokers they need these products to quit and they are not strong enough on their own.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy studies suggest that by using NRT, (gum, patch, etc.) that you may double your chances of giving up cigarettes. I've read the statistics so I'm not sure how they came up with this.

The facts go something like this.... Smokers who quit cold turkey have a 10% chance of success. Gum and Patch users have a 7% chance of success. Most NRT users will still be addicted to their "medicine" and will continue to use the gum or patch. Patch users who fail the first time have a nearly 100% chance of failure during a second attempt at quitting smoking. More than 90% of ex-smokers did it on their own, no help.

A cold turkey quitter can double their chances of success by educating themselves and having some support from friends or family. Think of the ex-smokers you know and how they did it. I personally can name several people who have been addicted to the gum for years. I just don't consider that breaking the habit. It's trading one for the other.

All around us we see advertisements for NRT. Television, internet, magazines, it's everywhere. Smokers are being told they can't handle it on their own and that the only chance of success they have is by purchasing a more expensive form of the drug they are addicted to in an effort to wean themselves off nicotine slowly. The problem with this is this... Nicotine leaves your body in around three days. The peak of withdrawal symptoms will be at this point. Cravings last roughly three minutes and are not physically painful. Once the third day is passed the cravings will continue to decrease until gone. So, if smokers continue to put nicotine into their body, how are they ever going to go through the necessary detox? By using NRT, they are dragging out their withdrawal symptoms while simultaneously making the pharmaceutical companies billions and billions of dollars.

I am by no means saying NRT can't work for people. But, shouldn't people give themselves the benefit of the doubt and try it on their own first. I am an ex-smoker... did the cold turkey thing. Before I quit, I spent many, many days researching the options, learning about nicotine addiction and that research was priceless. Seventeen days ago, after sixteen years of smoking, I put them down for good. So far, it hasn't been a big deal. Once I read the truth about nicotine withdrawal it seemed silly to put myself through a bunch of misery over it. The physical symptoms really are no big deal and I bet most can do it without the help of the so-called medicine the big pharmaceutical companies are trying to shove down your throat, (or stick to your arm.)