Kansas Statewide Smoking Ban May Prompt Smokers to Quit

PARSIPPANY, N.J., July 6 /PRNewswire/ -- There are more than 374,000 smokers in the state of Kansas and every year almost 3,800 of them die from a smoking-related illness.(1) As of July 1, they now have an added incentive to quit with the Kansas smoke free law that took effect in all restaurants, bars and workplaces as a result of the Kansas Indoor Clean Air Act.(2)

Research shows that policy changes, like the new statewide smoking ban, may prompt smokers to take an interest in quitting;(3) however, many people find that it is difficult to put down their cigarettes and walk away forever.  Quitting "cold turkey" is the most common method people try – it is also the least successful.(4)  In fact, approximately 95 percent of all cold turkey quit attempts fail.(4)

"Part of the reason why quitting cold turkey is unsuccessful for so many is that smokers don't realize they need to tackle both their nicotine addiction, as well as their own smoking habits to arrive at the best approach to quitting," said Saul Shiffman, Ph.D., professor in the departments of psychology and pharmaceutical science at the University of Pittsburgh and Senior Scientific Advisor at Pinney Associates, which provides consulting services to GlaxoSmithKline. "It's important for smokers to use available resources, such as online support and nicotine replacement therapy, to address their unique quitting needs and help them down the path of becoming smoke-free."

Kansas smokers interested in quitting can utilize a broad range of cessation tools available to them, such as counseling and behavioral support programs made available via their local Quit Line at 800-784-8669 or http://www.kssmokefree.org, and Web sites like www.Nicorette.com where they can enroll in a free, personalized quit plan.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products have helped millions of people around the world quit smoking(5) and, as a result, have significantly reduced their exposure to the risks of cancer and other smoking-related diseases.(6,7)  NRT is recommended as first-line treatment for smoking addiction in the U.S. and can reliably increase long-term smoking abstinence rates.(7)

About Nicorette®

Nicorette is a stop-smoking aid which provides fast, safe, controlled doses of nicotine to ease withdrawal from cigarettes.  Convenient to carry and use, Nicorette allows smokers to control their nicotine intake, and gives them the added flexibility to treat strong or frequent cravings. Nicorette gum is sugar-free and available in strengths of 2 mg (for smokers of less than 25 cigarettes each day) and 4 mg (for smokers of 25 or more cigarettes each day) and also is available in exciting flavors such as Fresh Mint, Fruit Chill, White Ice Mint and Cinnamon Surge. New Nicorette mini Lozenge is available in two strengths – 2 mg and 4 mg.  The 2 mg dosage is for smokers who usually have their first cigarette more than thirty minutes after waking up.  The 4 mg dosage is for smokers who usually have their first cigarette within thirty minutes of waking up.  Nicorette mini Lozenge is approved by the FDA to help control withdrawal symptoms including cravings associated with quitting smoking.  

About GlaxoSmithKline® Consumer Healthcare

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world's largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies.  Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicorette®, NicoDerm®CQ®, and Commit®, as well as many products such as alli®, Aquafresh®, Sensodyne®, and TUMS® -- which are trademarks owned by and/or licensed to GlaxoSmithKline Group of Companies.

About GlaxoSmithKline®

GlaxoSmithKline – one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For company information visit: GSK.com.

(1) Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.  The Toll of Tobacco in Kansas. http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/settlements/toll.php?StateID=KS

(2) Kansas Department of Health and Environment.  Kansas Smokefree Indoor Clean Act. 2010. http://www.kssmokefree.org/

(3) Fichtenberg, C., Glantz, S. Effect of smoke-free workplaces on smoking behaviour: systematic review. 2002.

(4) Hughes JR, Keely J, Naud S. Shape of the relapse curve and long-term abstinence among untreated smokers. 2004 Addiction, 99, 29-38.

(5) GSK data on file.

(6) Shiffman S. Engberg J. Paty JA, Perz W, Gnys M, Kassel JD, et al. A day at a time: predicting smoking lapse from daily urge. Journal of Abnormal Psychology 1997;106:104-116.

(7) Fiore MC, Jaen CR, Baker TB, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update. Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service. May 2008.

SOURCE GlaxoSmithKline