A Quitter’s Guide to Smoking Cessation Products

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of chronic disease and premature mortality. Considering how much harm it does to the human body, smoking cessation is the best way to minimize the risk of illness and early death. The National Cancer Institute’s report on quitting highlights how stopping smoking can significantly reduce the risk of cancer and lung disease— cutting the risk of lung cancer by 30% to 50% after ten years compared to people who continue to smoke. In addition, cutting cigarettes out can improve cardiovascular health and fertility.

However, it can be challenging to quit cigarettes due to their addictive nature, causing withdrawal symptoms when one tries to stop smoking. To help overcome these symptoms, smokers can use smoking cessation tools to ease out of smoking. Here, we present a quitter’s guide to smoking cessation products:

FDA-approved nicotine replacement products

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) enables users to quit smoking by gradually reducing the amount of nicotine provided to the body while avoiding the toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke. A study in Tobacco Induced Diseases found that NRT treatments had a quit rate of 33% in the short term and 25.9% after an average of five years. This is a significant success rate considering only 5% of smokers successfully quit tobacco without a quit-smoking product.

To aid smokers, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved or cleared products to assist them in their smoke-free journey. It’s best to consult your doctor before using any of the products below:

• Nicotine patches – placed on the skin, like an adhesive bandage

• Nicotine lozenges – dissolved in the mouth

• Nicotine gum – to be chewed according to labeled instruction

• Nicotine spray – sprayed through the nostril

• Nicotine inhaler – taken through shallow breaths

Nicotine pouches

A product that has been rising in use recently is the nicotine pouch. While similar to snus, these pouches don’t contain tobacco leaf, dust, or stem and only contain nicotine and flavorings, and food-grade fillers in the pouch. The nicotine pouches listed on Prilla feature some of the top brands such as On!, VELO, and ZYN, among many others. Depending on your preference, nicotine pouches come in unflavored and flavored variants, from mint to coffee. Users can also choose between different nicotine strengths, with regular levels ranging from 2 to 8mg, with stronger pouches also available.

To use a nicotine pouch, the product is slipped between the top lip and gum, where it can sit from 30 minutes to an hour before disposal. Given its smokeless and tobacco-free nature, nicotine pouches can be a harm-reduction tool and potentially a smoking cessation aid.

Electronic cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, are a popular alternative to smoking. E-cigarette devices heat nicotine aerosol, also called e-liquid, housed within the cartridge. This then turns into nicotine-filled vapor, which is inhaled by the user, much like a traditional cigarette. Since e-cigarettes emulate the feeling of smoking, many ex-smokers find it an easier switch.

In 2021, the FDA authorized the marketing of the e-cigarette Vuse from Reynolds Vapor Company to help in smoking cessation for adult smokers— although this approval only applies to tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes. As the absorption of nicotine and other compounds from e-cigs is through the respiratory tract, more research is needed to ensure these don’t cause complications like cigarettes.

Through smoking cessation products, smokers can minimize the effects of withdrawal and make it easier to quit. In addition to taking them in moderation, it’s important to pair these with other ways to distract yourself from smoking. Our post “When Was the Last Time You Did Something for the First Time (In Recovery)?” visits how running has helped an ex-smoker in their recovery— helping them overcome cravings and even improving their overall fitness. By engaging in other ways to quit alongside smoking cessation tools, you can increase your chances of successfully quitting.

Article Contributed by Morgan Hyde

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