What's New
By Nancy Rigotti, MD, for the
Partners Tobacco Treatment Task Force
In May 2008 the U.S. Public Health Service released an
update of the evidence-based clinical guideline, Treating
Tobacco Use and Dependence. The following is a summary of
the Guideline’s major points:
What’s New?
- Tobacco dependence is now recognized as a chronic
disease; one that typically requires ongoing assessment,
management, and repeated intervention.
- The range of effective tobacco dependence treatments has
expanded. Seven first-line drugs, along with a wider array of
counseling and support options are now available to help people
stop smoking.
- An emphasis on the value of combining treatment strategies:
- Medication and counseling is more effective than either
treatment by itself
- Combining different medications also increases treatment
efficacy
- Telephone counseling is effective and reaches a variety of
populations. It is now available free nationwide:
1-800-QUIT-NOW.
- Smoking cessation counseling is effective for adolescents who
smoke
For complete update please read the full PCHIfocus
article
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