Nicotine
patches and nicotine gum do not appear to be effective in helping
smokers quit long-term, researchers say. Lead author Hillel Alpert,
research scientist at Harvard School of Public Health, and co-author
Lois Biener of the University of Massachusetts Boston’s Center for
Survey Research, tracked 787 adults in Massachusetts who had recently
quit smoking. The participants were surveyed during three time periods –
2001-2002, 2003-2004 and 2005-2006 – and asked whether they used a
nicotine replacement therapy in the form of the nicotine patch, nicotine
gum, nicotine inhaler or nasal spray. The results showed almost
one-third of recent quitters relapsed during each time period – and
there was no difference in the relapse rate among those who used
nicotine replacement therapy for more than six weeks, with or without
professional counseling, and that of smokers who did not use nicotine
replacement therapy. In addition, no difference in quitting success with
use of nicotine replacement therapy was found for either heavy or light
smokers.
