Jump to full article: The Guardian (uk), 2009-11-04
Author: * BMJ Group, Wednesday 4 November 2009 00.00 GMT
Intro: What does this mean for me?
We don't know why people who switched cigarette types were less likely to succeed in quitting. The researchers suggest some possibilities:
* People who switched may have been more addicted to nicotine, so tried to cut down by switching first rather than simply trying to quit
* They may have used up their initial motivation by switching brands, and run out of enthusiasm to quit altogether
* They may have felt that quitting was less important, because they wrongly thought they were doing less damage to their health with the low-tar brand.
Overall, the study suggests that swapping types of cigarette doesn't help you give up smoking. The message seems to be that it's better to concentrate your energies on giving up, rather than worrying about the type of cigarette you smoke.
What should I do now?
If you want to give up smoking, contact your GP surgery. They can help you to quit. Alternatively, call the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 022 4332 to find out about stop smoking services in your area.
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