What Method is Best to Quit Smoking?

QUESTION: With all the advice saying the same thing (including material in
your column), I've decided to quit smoking. Now that the decision is made, I
don't think I can take it cold-turkey. What method do you think is best and
do you think I can manage it by myself?
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ANSWER: Different folks need different strokes, but self-help programs have a
very low success rate, and I don't advise them. I prefer some more structured
situation, with your physician or counselor to keep tabs on you and offer
support, advice and suggestions if the going gets rough. If you are truly
physically addicted to nicotine, then perhaps using a medication, nicotine
polacrilex, may be the best route for you. Answering a few simple questions
contained in the Fagerstrom nicotine tolerance scale will help your physician
determine level of addiction. Using medication in a well designed program
that includes counseling and behavior modification training will provide the
best odds in your favor. There are two such techniques that may interest you.
A rapid smoking technique requires that you inhale once every six seconds
until you just don't want any more, frequently brings on all the unpleasant
symptoms you first experienced when you started smoking, nausea, dizziness and
general discomfort. When you begin to associate the smoking with all the bad
effects, it may help you quit. Another technique, called satiation smoking,
requires that you triple the number of cigarettes you normally smoke over a
20-45 minute period. Other techniques, such as hypnotism, electroshock and
acupuncture do not show great effectiveness in controlled clinical trials,
though I know of some individuals who credit their successful battle against
nicotine to their use. Actually it is up to you, and with a little help from
your friends, you can succeed.