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New Surgeon General Report: “Smoking Cessation”

NDC_Team
Mayo Clinic
8 11 371

The Surgeon General has newly released a report on smoking cessation.  Since the first report released in 1964, the Surgeon General has published more than 25 reports on the health effects from tobacco, second hand smoke, e-cigarettes, and addiction, but this is only the second report, and the first in 30 years, on a topic of personal interest to the members of the EX community: smoking cessation. 

The major conclusions in the report include 1.) Despite important and dramatic reductions since 1964 in the percentage of people who smoke, tobacco is still the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. 2.) Smoking cessation at any age improves health and enhances quality of life. 3. Most people who smoke attempt to quit each year but the large majority of them do not use methods (like EX) that are proven to improve success.  4.) FDA approved smoking cessation medications and counseling or other behavioral support effectively increases success in quitting.  5.) Coverage for smoking cessation that is barrier free and widely promoted leads to higher rates of successful quitting.

What the report has to say about web based support may be of particular interest to members of the EX Community.  For any of the Reports, the Surgeon General team review thousands of studies and then determine if the scientific evidence is sufficient to show cause, or infer the effectiveness of an intervention.  This new report finds for the first time, that the evidence is sufficient to determine that web and internet interventions increase success for people trying to quit, especially if the site is interactive. 

But, I suspect you already knew that.  You see the wonderful success that stems from EX every day. You hear from one another about how the struggle to quit becomes easier over time, how the health benefits happen for people of any age, and how quality of life can improve each day.  You encourage those who are struggling, congratulate those who are succeeding, and welcome those who are unsure. The interactive support you provide for one another is wonderful, and it works!  Thanks and keep up this good work!

Michael V. Burke, Ed.D

Program Director and NDC Counselor/ CTTS

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About the Author
The Nicotine Dependence Center at Mayo Clinic has been home to physicians, nurse practitioners, Master’s / PhD level counselors, trained TTS’, and amazing office staff for a total of 30 years, all working together to treat individuals who struggle with tobacco use. Counselors meet with an individual to develop their own personalized plan, discuss coping strategies, and provide ongoing support along the journey towards a tobacco-free life. As part of the process, counselors work with physicians and nurse practitioners to provide nicotine replacements and other medications for smoking cessation as needed. We are happy to be involved with the EX Community and we hope our experiences and expertise can help in your journey towards a tobacco-free life. View the link in our signature to see our individual Biographies.