Nicotine Replacement

[Dr_Hurt]

Nicotine replacement has gotten a ‘bad rap’. People mistakenly think that nicotine causes cancer. It does not. Other chemicals in tobacco and tobacco smoke cause cancer – not nicotine. People mistakenly fear that nicotine replacement can cause heart problems. It does not. Cigarette smoking causes heart attack, stroke, and numerous respiratory problems - not nicotine. People are concerned about becoming addicted to nicotine replacement without realizing that cigarettes are in a league of their own when it comes to addiction. The cigarette is the best drug delivery device for nicotine ever invented. Not even an intravenous infusion can deliver nicotine more effectively than a cigarette. The cigarette is designed to addict those who use it, and as many of you know, it does the job all too well.



Nicotine replacement is a safe and effective method for stopping smoking. It doubles the likelihood that a person will be able to stop smoking in a given quit attempt. There are five different nicotine replacement medications: nicotine patch, gum, lozenge, inhaler, and nasal spray. The U.S. Public Health Service recommends that medication be used in every attempt to quit smoking, unless there is a specific medical reason to not use medication. Learn more about the medications that can help you succeed on BecomeAnEX.org. It works, it’s safe, and it will double your odds of stopping smoking. Why not use it?

Dr. Richard D. Hurt is an internationally recognized expert on tobacco dependence. A native of Murray, Kentucky, he joined Mayo Clinic in 1976 and is now a Professor of Medicine at its College of Medicine. In 1988, he founded the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center and since then its staff has treated over 33,000 patients for tobacco dependence. Send your questions directly to Dr. Hurt at AskTheExpert@becomeanex.org