NEW RESEARCH: Trying to quit smoking? Here's the most effective strategy

If you're planning on kicking your cigarette habit, going "cold turkey" (waking up one morning and deciding NEVER to smoke again) is the best option, new research published today in the Journal Annals of Internal Medicine 2016 reports.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), half of all smokers who keep smoking will end up dying from a smoking-related illness. In the United States alone, smoking is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths, and more than 16 million people suffer from smoking-related diseases, including lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

"Smoking cessation [quitting smoking] represents the single most important step that smokers can take to enhance the length and quality of their lives."

Current guidelines recommend people choose a quit day then abruptly stop smoking. But many people prefer to take a gradual approach, where they cut back the amount they smoke over time. This gradually cutting back might not be the best option, yet.

"For many people, the obvious way to quit smoking is to cut down gradually until they stop. After all, that's how we accomplish most other goals that are hard," lead researcher Dr. Nicola Lindson-Hawley said. "With addictions other than smoking, we aim to get people to cut down gradually rather than stop abruptly. But with smoking, the norm is to advise people to stop all at once."

For most long-term smokers, breaking up with the hazardous habit is hard to do. But like any toxic relationship, sometimes it’s best to sever ties completely and not let the affair drag on long enough to cause even more damage.

However, gradual cessation may still work for some smokers who want to quit completely at some point in the future. “Gradual cessation programs could still be worthwhile if they increase the number of persons who try to quit or take up support and medication while trying,” the researchers write.


Credit: Journal Annals of Internal Medicine 2016