| Quit smoking cold turkey success rates are reported | | | | that they all fail miserably with only about 5% |
| to be as low as 5%. I have been wondering why this is | | | | successfully quitting. |
| so and whether or not it is true. And I think I have an | | | | There is a difference between being told to quit |
| answer for why people think quit smoking cold turkey | | | | because it is bad for you and being advised to quit and |
| is such an ineffective way of giving up the smokes. | | | | 'this is how you do it'. Let me use an analogy. |
| In my definition, quitting smoking cold turkey means not | | | | Imagine, without any computer knowledge at all, you |
| using anything other than your own ability to overcome | | | | were given the task of setting up a company human |
| the need to smoke. This means no use of varenicline, | | | | resources database. You were placed in front of an |
| (chantix and champix), zyban (wellbutrin and bupropion), | | | | internet enabled computer and given a week to |
| nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, tabs, nasal sprays or | | | | complete the task or you would be assured an early |
| inhalers. You should not be using acupuncture, laser | | | | death. How many people could do it? |
| therapy, silver acetate sprays, aversion therapies, chain | | | | I reckon about only a tiny fraction would be able to |
| smoking, hypnosis, clonidine, opoid antagonists, | | | | apply themselves to the task and complete it. Most |
| anxiolytics, anti-depressants, nicocure, nicobrevin, | | | | would fail miserably, just as smokers do when they try |
| lobeline or mecamylamine - to mention a 'phew' of the | | | | to quit smoking without any support or education or |
| options! | | | | advice. |
| When you think of someone quitting smoking cold | | | | You see, there is always a small percentage of the |
| turkey, it is the sudden cut off from cigarettes without | | | | population could succeed in any task set them. Not |
| any support other than ones own mental prowess | | | | always the same 5% of course, depending upon the |
| over the problem of nicotine addiction. | | | | task, but there are always some that will just knuckle |
| Quitting smoking cold turkey does not rule out the use | | | | down, apply themselves and figure out how to do it. |
| of educational materials to understand your relationship | | | | For the rest of us, we need help in the form of |
| both with cigarettes and your number one enemy, | | | | guidance and instruction. |
| nicotine. | | | | Quitting smoking requires motive, means and |
| In the many years that I tried to quit smoking before | | | | opportunity. |
| realising the secret of quitting smoking, I found that I | | | | Your motive to quit smoking should be the never |
| was unable to overcome the evil weed because I had | | | | ending torrent of medical and general opinion pointing |
| not learned how to quit smoking before trying to do it. I | | | | out what a futile and self destructive act smoking |
| had read all the common materials and the pamphlets | | | | tobacco is. The health risks are just preposterous! |
| that came with my nicotine patches and pills and | | | | You means to quit smoking is the need to learn how |
| inhalers! Nothing, nada, zip in there taught me how to | | | | you should do it. It is not best achieved with some of |
| quit smoking. | | | | the pills or potions or any of the other interventions I |
| We often read that certain products offer highly | | | | mentioned earlier in this article. Studies have proven |
| successful quit rates when compared to cold turkey | | | | that over 85% of long term quitters, quit using nothing |
| quitters but what we are not being told is that the cold | | | | more than education and attitude as their main means |
| turkey quitters aren't even getting any help to quit | | | | of achieving a smoke free life. |
| smoking in these studies. | | | | Finally, your opportunity is now. Most smokers will carp |
| If you take 20 smokers and leave them alone for a | | | | on about quitting this week or this month or this year, |
| year, chances are that one will quit smoking, even | | | | as not being the right time to quit. That, I am afraid is a |
| though over 14-18 of them wants to quit smoking. | | | | load of rubbish. The usual birthday, wedding, stress |
| In most studies comparing the latest quit smoking drug, | | | | excuses are merely excuses to keep on smoking, |
| the 'control group' (the cold turkey group) are just told | | | | they are not reasons to not quit - there is a difference! |
| to quit smoking. They may be given some sugar pills or | | | | The best opportunity to quit smoking by any means |
| some sticky patches (without nicotine) but they are | | | | including cold turkey is right now! |
| normally just left to their own devices. No surprise then | | | | Never stop trying to quit. |