Smoking Reduction
About half of all smokers try to reduce the amount they smoke but few succeed.
However, studies have shown that smokers who want to cut down but are not ready to quit can reduce consumption by half if they also use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). NRT can help smokers who have cut down to subsequently quit altogether.
Nicotine Assisted Reduction to Stop: ASH guidance for health professionals on this new indication for NRT
Nicotine Assisted Reduction to Stop: ASH guidance for health professionals on this new indication for NRT
ASH advisory note on the 'cut down to stop' program
This indication called “cut down to stop” is supported by ASH and has been passed by the MHRA. Currently around a third of smokers attempt to quit in any given year, but something like 7 out of 10 say they would like to stop. It is crucial that the third who want to stop continue to be encouraged to stop, but this indication offers a way forward for those not ready to stop completely.
Cut down with Nicorette: A background briefing from Pfizer
A background briefing by Pfizer on 'Cut down with Nicorette, then stop', a four step approach to cessation
Journal article: Smoking reduction with oral nicotine inhalers, double blind paper (External Web Page)
Authors : Annik Robidou, Ake Westin, Andre Perruchoud, Urbain Sawe, Chris Bolliger, Jean-Pierre Zellweger, Tobias Danielsson, Xandra van Biljon Published By : British Medical Journal Published : 15/09/2005
Smoking reduction with 4 mg nicotine gum
Final results from a placebo-controlled trial over 13M. Presented at the 5th European Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco meeting, Padua, Italy, 20-22 November 2003. Full paper submitted to Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics in 2004.
Efficacy of nicotine inhaler in smoking reduction
Poster presented at the European Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco meeting in Paris 20 - 22 September 2001.
Modelling the short term consequences of smoking cessation in England on the hospitalisation rates for acute myocardial infarction and stroke (External Web Page)
Assessment of short term savings arising from reduced heart disease and stroke for the UK given two scenarios for smoking cessation. Bhash Naidooa, Warren Stevensb, Klim McPhersonc. Tobacco Control 2000 (9): 397-400
Latest Archived Items - access the rest of the archive here
Journal article: Both Smoking Reduction with NRT and Motivational Advice increase future cessation among smokers unmotivated to quit
Results indicated that smoking reduction using NRT does not undermine cessation but rather increases the likelihood of quitting to a degree similar to motivational advice.
Journal article: Smoking reduction promotes smoking cessation: results from a double blind, randomized control trial
Smoking reduction promotes smoking cessation: results from a double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial of nicotine gum with a 2 year follow-up. Nicotine gum promoted cessation in this population of smokers unwilling to quit. Among reducers, the toxin intake correlated with reduced cigarette consumption although some compensatory smoking occurred.
Journal article: Nicotine concentrations with concurrent use of cigarettes and NRT: a review
Nicotine concentrations with concurrent use of cigarettes and nicotine replacement: A review
