Every smoker has a different reason for their continued addiction. Some enjoy the social side of smoking, some enjoy the act of smoking itself, and some hang on to the much derided concept of smoking being “cool” and “rebellious”. However, the main reason most smokers continue their habit is down to a fear of quitting.

Sitcom and drama writers have long relied on stories about their characters quitting smoking, usually for comedic effect. The general perception is that quitting smoking is hard and, during the process, the individual will become fraught and difficult to live with. Overall, this seems to be accepted fact and almost a cause for hilarity, when in fact it puts many smokers off the idea of quitting.

Every smoker knows that, with every cigarette, they are shortening their life span. But the alternative – the act of quitting – seems almost as bad. Many smokers fear they won’t be able to deal with the side effects of smoking cessation, such as withdrawal. Some fear that by quitting smoking, they will gain weight. These may seem like small fears compared with the idea of lung cancer, but they are nevertheless large contributing factors as to why so many smokers remain smokers.

There is no doubt that stopping smoking isn’t easy. As well as the effects of physical withdrawal, many smokers cannot face the loss of the social aspect of their life. Smokers are often heard to say that they don’t want to quit as the majority of their social circle smokes and they would somehow feel left out. But these issues must be pushed through to achieve any kind of success when it comes to quitting cigarettes for good.

Begin by acknowledging the issues. Acknowledge that, for a period of time, life may be quite unpleasant. You will have to deal with the aspects of withdrawal that are physical, as well as the social and emotional attachment to smoking. While it may seem easier to bury your head in the sand and continue smoking to avoid these difficulties, the simple fact remains that your life will be much, much worse than the occasional withdrawal pain and social problem if you continue smoking.

Be aware of the potential problems and try to plan around them. Although the problems themselves may be largely insoluble in advance, at least by being forewarned and aware of any issues you have a level of preparation that should make everything easier to deal with. And remember, the short term pain and problems of quitting will soon be replaced with a stronger, healthier lifestyle. Surely some things are worth a little sacrifice?

When it comes to quitting smoking, one of the most frequently used ways to ease the problems of withdrawal is nicotine gum. The gum is said to help  cravings, allowing the smoker to adjust to a cigarette-free life without the long running associated problems.

Nicotine gum contains a nicotine compared called nicotine polacrilex, which is said to have a potent effect on any cravings. Nicotine gum, however, should not be chewed like normal chewing gum – there is a specifically designed way of using it, which should increase it’s effectiveness. Each piece of nicotine gum should last for half an hour. To achieve this, chew the gum thoroughly until the taste of the nicotine compound is strong in your mouth. When it is, put the gum against your cheek and desist chewing it. When the strong taste has dissapated, start chewing again to release another wave of flavour. Repeat this until there is no taste left in the gum.

The manufacturers of nicotine gum suggest that it should only be used when a craving strikes, though many smokers in the process of quitting prefer to use it as a preventative. The choice on this is yours, but it is suggested that by limiting the use of nicotine gum to just when particularly severe cravings strike, it has a better change of succeeding.

The strength of gum you select depends on how many cigarettes you usually smoke in a day. For anything under 10 cigarettes per day, gum containing 2mg of nicotine polacrilex should be sufficient. For up to 20 cigarettes a day, use 4mg gum, while reserving 6mg for anyone who usually smokes over 20 cigarettes a day.

Nicotine gum cannot fully remove cravings. The best it can do is reduce the intense discomfort associated with smoking cessation, the theory being that by easing the worst of any craving, willpower should do the rest. It is important to have realistic expectations of nicotine gum; it never can fully replace the desire to smoke, but should be viewed more as a willpower aid than a full cigarette replacement. However, nicotine gum when used correctly can be incredibly effective and significantly improves your chances of stopping smoking for good. For this reason alone, it is worth a try.

Nicotine patches are perhaps the most common form of nicotine replacement therapy, designed the ease the discomfort of physical withdrawal when a smoker decides to quit cigarettes. Unlike other methods which work on satisfying an instant craving, patches are designed to continually release nicotine for the duration of wear, which hopefully reduces the chances of an intense craving.

Nicotine patches are quite large and resemble a large Band Aid or plaster. They tend to be skin coloured, for maximum discretion. They are applied to the skin, where a mild glue holds them in place until they are forcibly removed. While the patches are in contact with the skin, a small amount of nicotine is released and this is absorbed into the bearer’s system.

Like all types of nicotine replacement therapy, nicotine patches come in various strengths. The most common use of patches is to use them on a sliding scale, beginning with patches containing 15mg of nicotine. After six week, if the bearer has successful managed to avoid smoking, this is decreased down to 10mg. Another two weeks on, it is then suggested a further drop down to the lowest rate – 5mg – for a further two weeks. After this period, most can remove the patches all together and begin a life completely devoid of nicotine.

Nicotine patches have one of the best success rates of all the various nicotine replacement therapies. This is largely due to the fact that they create a constant flow of nicotine into the bearer’s system, hugely reducing the risks of an all-consuming craving which can often cause people to give up and smoke a cigarette.

As with anything, there are some drawbacks to nicotine patches. The most common side effect is skin discoloration or discomfort where the patch meets the skin. For this reason, it is recommended that with each new patch you apply, put it in a different area of the body to reduce the chances of suffering. The most common areas for application are the hips, thighs, back and upper arms, and it is worth remembering that patches will be less effective if applied on a joint. Instead, opt for a flat area of skin which is disturbed as little as possible by movement.

However, the benefits far outweigh the negatives of nicotine patches. They are hugely useful if you find the taste or smell of nicotine unpleasant, something which is unavoidable with gum or nasal sprays. Although patches can’t do the entire job of quitting for you, it is estimated that those who do wear patches are 50% more likely to quit smoking for good.

With most aids to stopping smoking, the emphasis is placed on eradicating the craving for nicotine by introducing a period of nicotine replacement therapy. This comes in many forms, from the standard patches and gum to the lesser known nasal spray and lozenges.

While using these methods of nicotine replacement therapy almost doubles the chances of total cessation of smoking, these methods do very little to help the other problems of quitting smoking. While the main issue for most is the nicotine withdrawal, many smokers suffer emotional problems when quitting smoking. Some of this is chemical, as some of the chemicals contained without nicotine and cigarettes are powerful stimulants of the feel-good hormone dopamine. However, some of the problems are social and mental.

Non smokers may find it hard to believe, but many smokers actually enjoy smoking. They enjoy the feeling of sitting back and relaxing with a cigarette and the social life that comes with smoking; after all, nothing bonds people together like trying to smoke in the wind and the rain. Some people also suffer if they used smoking as a comfort, and as soon as these people have a bad moment or anxious period, their desire to smoke is unignorable and even with nicotine replacement therapy cannot be eradicated.

The emotive side of smoking is a powerful one, and one that is now recognised by doctors and researchers. At present, there is a way to help combat the emotional impact of stopping smoking. A drug named bupropion, given the retail name Zyban, is traditionally used as an anti-depressant. However, doctors found that people using it reported a lessening in their desire to smoke, even if they were not trying to quit at the time. More was researched into this, and soon the drug was made available to help people quit smoking who had no other mental illnesses. Zyban works by helping people deal with, and in some cases eradicate, the emotions associated with quitting smoking – such as restlessness, depression and anxiety.

The drug is taken for around 12 weeks, the course usually beginning one week before the person quits smoking. This is to allow for the drug to build up to the necessary levels in a person’s system. Two tablets are taken each day, eight hours apart, up to a maximum dose of 300mg.

Studies have shown that people were 25% more likely to cease smoking for good when taking Zyban, compared to those who were given a placebo. As Zyban itself contains no nicotine, it can be used in conjunction with nicotine replacement therapy such as patches and gum, giving the smoker a much better chance of stopping smoking for good.

Zyban is a relatively new drug and is therefore closely monitored. It is only available by prescription from a doctor and will only be given for smoking cessation once. It is particularly useful for those who have tried to quit smoking before and found the reason they returned was less due to cravings and more for emotive reasons. As more is discovered about Zyban and further clinical trials are conducted, the promising start of this drug in the fight against smoking may blossom into a stunning future.