Over 50% Smokers Become More Determined to Quit Due to New No-Smoking OrdinanceBack

'NRT-Cut Down Then Stop' Therapy
Double the Success Rate !

Date of Release: October 23, 2006

Smoking is hazardous to health. Each year in Hong Kong, 7,000 people die of diseases related to smoking. With Legco passing the 2005 Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance, no-smoking zones will be expanded to more public areas including restaurants, indoor workplaces, and karaoke, creating an urgency for smokers to quit smoking. According to a recent survey, almost 80% smokers rely on willpower alone to quit, 20% fail five times! Medical professional advocates adopting the new strategy 'Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) - Cut Down Then Stop', which helps smokers' who are not ready or unable to quit smoking to reduce the reliance on nicotine and increases the success rate.

The Hong Kong Society of Hospital Pharmacists Drug Education Resources Centre commissioned the Public Opinion Programme of the University of Hong Kong to conduct a survey titled 'Roadblocks in Smoking Cessation'. The survey, conducted in late September 2006 with 500 respondents who have attempted to quit smoking, reveals the fact that smokers do encounter many hurdles to quit:

• Almost 80% (77%) rely on willpower alone to quit smoking, among them include heavy smokers who consume over 16 cigarettes a day.
• Nearly 60% (58%) quit by reducing the consumption of cigarette gradually; almost 40% (36%) try chewing gum; 20% (21%) try snacking; 10% try nicotine patches and/or nicotine gum.
• Nearly 20% (19%) have failed five times or more.
• Over 60% want to smoke after breakfast or meals (68%), during work, or after completing important tasks (63%)
• Around 20% feel anxious (24%), upset (22%) or depressed (17%) in the process

According to Ms Karie Pang, Programme Manager of the Public Opinion Programme, at the University of Hong Kong, the majority of the respondents are aware of the negative effects of smoking to health, and over half of them have attempted to quit for the sake of health. Over 50% are more determined to quit because of the new no-smoking ordinance which prohibits smoking in restaurants. However, there are many roadblocks to quit and they are in need of help.

Without the Help of Treatment, 90% Fail to Quit Smoking
Pharmacists William Chui of The Hong Kong Society of Hospital Pharmacists Drug Education Resources Centre agreed to the government's action to prohibit smoking further, which motivates smokers to quit. However, according to overseas clinical studies, smokers not using any kind of treatment are difficult to achieve complete cessation, and most of them will smoke again within just one week, 90% will become addicted again within one year. Pharmacists William Chui said, "Don't think switching to low tar 'mild' cigarette will be safer, in fact, 'mild' cigarette contains harmful ingredients that are more hazardous to health."

According to Dr Rhoda Yuen, experienced counseling psychologist, the desire to smoke is both a physical dependence on nicotine and a psychological yarn for relief. She said, "At the beginning when they try to take the first cigarette, most of them want to relax a bit or to de-stress, or long for the acceptance of their peers. Many men smoke in order to reduce nervousness and anxiety; women smoke to show off their character, or mistake it to have impact on weight loss, so that they smoke more and more and it becomes increasingly difficult to quit."

'NRT-Cut Down Then Stop' Therapy. Double Success Rate
According to clinical studies, success rate will increase significantly if daily consumption of cigarette can be reduced by more than 50%. The recent therapy recommended by medical professionals, 'NRT-Cut Down Then Stop' targets at those who are not ready or unable to stop abruptly and helps them take the first step to quit. It works by replacing cigarette by nicotine replacement therapy such as nicotine chewing gum to reduce cigarette consumption, and build confidence until the desire to smoke vanishes.

According to the findings of a clinical study participated by 411 smokers who try the 'NRT-Cut Down Then Stop' therapy, the success rate to quit smoking in one year of the group on therapy is two times more than that of the placebo group. Another study with 616 participants reveals that the therapy enables 40% smokers who have little desire to quit to cease smoking. Pharmacists William Chui urged unprepared smokers to seek help from community pharmacists and smoking cessation groups. They should set appropriate cessation strategy and adopt appropriate nicotine replacement product, in order to achieve the goal of complete cessation the soonest.

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Media Contact: Grey Healthcare
Dorothy Yung Tel：2510 6765
Ellena Kam Tel：2510 6794
Veronica Hui Tel︰2510 6697

'NRT-Cut Down Then Stop' 4 Steps Approach :