For many people, the nicotine patch is the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to quitting smoking. But how do these patches work, and are they effective? Nicotine patches have been available over-the-counter since 1996, and deliver nicotine, the addictive substance in cigarettes, through the skin and into the bloodstream. The nicotine is released at a steady, controlled rate, thereby reducing the effects of nicotine withdrawal. The patches are available in different doses, which are prescribed depending on how many cigarettes the smoker used every day. A regular cigarette delivers about 1 mg of nicotine, so the patches regularly come in 21, 14, and 7 mg doses. The goal is to slowly decrease dosage over a period of weeks. According to MedLine Plus, the nicotine patch is applied directly to the skin on a clean, hairless area like the upper chest, upper arm, or hip. The same patch is worn for 16-24 hours, depending on the brand and dosage.
A study by Hays, et. al followed a group of 958 people smokers. Half of the participants received the nicotine patch treatment, while the other half received a placebo patch. After 24 weeks, the authors of the study concluded that the nicotine patch is an effective and safe treatment for smoking cessation. However, research does show that successful quitting smoking is most likely to occur with the combination of the patch and another stop smoking program. The New York Times reported that individuals who use the nicotine patch are more than twice as likely to quit smoking for at least six months than those who don't use a patch. Luckily, this treatment is also affordable; on average it costs a user $20-$30 per week, a figure equal to or less than the money spent on cigarettes each week.
1 comment:
It makes sense that it's most effective with another anti- smoking program. I think it would be hard, once you weren't using the patch anymore, to keep from smoking if you were still addicted to nicotine. How long do people have to stay on the patch for?
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