A new study has found that free nicotine patches mailed to smokers could help them quit the habit without any behavioral support. It is big news that the over-the-counter (OTC) nicotine replacement therapy works without professional counseling because it could help people to independently put out their last cigarette or cigar.
The study was published in JAMA Internal Medicine. It was conducted by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Canada.
Researchers recruited smoking volunteers throughout Canada by randomly dialing home and mobile phone numbers. The participants all daily smoked 10 or more cigarettes.
Past studies showed that nicotine patches were very effective when combined with behavioral support. However, in large studies OTC patches did not seem to help smokers kick the habit, according to EurekAlert.
The research team took up the issue by doing a randomized clinical trial. They wanted to learn if free nicotine patches mailed to smokers would help people quit their smoking habit compared to smokers who did not get patches.
A total 500 study volunteers in the experimental group received a 5-week supply of nicotine patches through the post office. Meanwhile, the 499 volunteers in the control group did not receive any nicotine patches. Six months later researchers checked how many participants had not smoked.
Nearly eight percent of participants who received patches reported they were abstinent during the past 30 days. The figure was five percent for the control group.
A total 58 percent of the experimental group reported they used the nicotine patches. About one-fifth of them used up the full five-week supply.
In Canada many jurisdictions mail out free nicotine patches and provide counselling to smokers who call a toll-free phone number. The study was independent of such programs but the authors shared that the clinical trial supported anti-smoking programs that mailed free nicotine patches.
Dr. Len Horovitz is a lung health expert at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. He explained that smokers sometimes just need help and a "jumpstart" to quit, according to WebMD.
Smoking is globally the top cause of preventable disease worldwide. Each year tobacco use causes almost 6 million deaths around the world.
Here are some helpful tips for quitting smoking: