According to the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC), 9 out of 10 lung cancers are caused by cigarette smoking. This relationship also exists with other tumors such as cancers of the mouth, esophagus, larynx, pharynx, kidney, bladder or pancreas.
Nicotine is one of the most highly addictive substances known and tobacco smoking is responsible for about one-third of potential years of life lost due to cancer, about one-quarter of potential years of life lost due to diseases of the heart and about one-half of potential years of life lost due to respiratory disease. But there is help available! Research has shown that people who get help to quit smoking from trained health professionals are 4 times more likely to be successful long tem quitters than those who try will-power alone. In particular, Cytisine, a plant based product has been shown to double your chance of success at quitting.
Cytisine – made from the seeds of the “Golden Rain Tree” (Laburnum), Cytisine has been in use for over fifty years in Eastern Europe. This product has been recognised as the closest substance to nicotine. In the brain it acts just like nicotine and stimulates the release of pleasure chemicals such as dopamine, which means that withdrawal symptoms from nicotine are greatly reduced.
When combined with a stop smoking behaviour change programme, smokers who use Cytisine (taken as a small tablet), are more likely to stop smoking completely at 4 weeks than those who use patches. After 6 months Cytisine is more effective than patches and when compared to a dummy tablet or will power Cytisine doubles the chance of success.
What does a behaviour change programme consist of?
Clients are seen either individually or in groups 4 times over a 6 week period during which time they are supported and encouraged to quit smoking using a variety of proven behaviour change methods.
At the first session clients are encouraged to identify their own desire to stop smoking and helped to set realistic goals regarding the quit attempt. The therapist uses a combination of Motivational Interviewing and empathetic listening adapted from “Mindfullness” counselling to help the client understand their own motivation to stop smoking. Dependency to nicotine is assessed using a simple questionnaire.
Once a quit date has been set, clients are taught a number of skills to help manage stress and facilitate self-efficacy for quitting. Relaxation techniques, breathing techniques and affirmations have all been shown to result in positive outcomes and are utilised during the following sessions.
At the 4th treatment session (after 28 days of abstinence) clients are taught management strategies to help prevent relapse and provided with positive reinforcement and feedback information. Goal setting and action planning are taught with a view to enabling clients to cope with all eventualities. These tactics are taught individually to ensure a customised approach to management.
This Stop Smoking Programme implements a combined therapeutic approach utilising medications to help reduce withdrawal symptoms and effective behaviour change techniques to help people quit smoking. For people with a strong dependency to nicotine, repeated unsuccessful attempts at quitting or co-existing health concerns such as cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, this intensive programme provides proven effective help.
Rachel Garrod Ph. D M.C.S.P.
STOP SMOKING Unit
May 31, 2016
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