PSYCHPHARACOLOGY

Treating Nicotine Addiction

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of Nicotine Addiction in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on treatment of Nicotine Addiction and its relation with recommended medications. The research also analyzes many aspects of Nicotine Addiction treatment and tries to gauge its effect on the patient. Finally the research describes various factors which are responsible for Nicotine Addiction and tries to describe the overall effect of treatments on patient.

Treating Nicotine Addiction

The evidence base for the treatment of nicotine addiction

Quitting smoking remains one of the most important measures to reduce smoking related morbidity and mortality. There is no safe level of consumption or exposure to tobacco smoke.

Quitting smoking at any age results in immediate health benefits, irrespective of how long a person has been smoking. Many factors influence a smoker's decision to quit including cost, community tolerance, compromised health and smoking restrictions. It is common for people to need multiple attempts to quit before finally becoming a non smoker. In addition to motivation, support, confidence and cognitive ability, all smokers require access to a range of appropriate evidence based smoking cessation services and treatments, often delivered as combination therapies, to maximise their chances of success (Benowitz, 1996, 597-613).

Evidence indicates that the effects of smoking cessation services are cumulative and that best results occur when multiple providers deliver treatment and support at different times. Numerous professions have been shown to be effective in increasing quit rates including physicians, nurses, dentists, psychologists, social workers, cessation counsellors and pharmacists.

Only 3 to 5% of people remain abstinent from smoking 6 to 12 months after quitting on their own without support. The four evidence based smoking cessation treatment and support services are (Benowitz, 2008):

brief intervention by trained health professionals,

intensive individual or group counseling

telephone counseling particularly when promoted in conjunction with other approaches

pharmacotherapies including NRT and non nicotine products such as Varenicline and Bupropion

There is no evidence that acupuncture is an effective treatment and insufficient evidence to recommend hypnotherapy as a treatment for smoking cessation. Treatment interventions need to be supported by clear referral and treatment pathways understood and commonly used by a trained and competent workforce across all health settings who have the capacity to deliver services.

Brief intervention

A brief intervention within a health care setting can be defined as "recognizing a problem, or potential problem as soon as possible and doing something to stop the harm that the problem will cause. It involves intervening and is essentially an activity of primary health care workers. It offers a brief, structured form of advice, usually when the problem is first recognized" (Benowitz, 2008). Brief intervention is a successful technique when used with patients who smoke and are receptive to intervention and change. Brief opportunistic advice has a low efficacy but because of the huge number of people health professionals see in the course of any one year, it can have a very significant public health impact

The 5A's is a useful framework for engaging patients in smoking cessation discussions and ...