Strategies for curing tobacco addiction

Tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Recent advances in the understanding of nicotine addiction have given rise to new therapeutic approaches. New pharmacologic approaches for the treatment of tobacco addiction include nicotine replacement products (transdermal patch, nasal spray, and inhaler) and the use of anti-depressant drugs (bupropion). Pharmacologic treatments should be used in combination with behavioral counseling to increase effectiveness. Guidelines exist for the incorporation of tobacco cessation practices into the physician’s daily practice, and physicians are urged to offer tobacco cessation programs to all patients suffering from nicotine addiction.