NRT confidence
January 12, 2012
THE Australian Self-Medication
Industry has defended nicotine
replacement therapy (NRT) saying
it remains a proven effective
therapy in helping smokers to quit.
The comments come in the wake
of a study published in Tobacco
Control, by researchers at Harvard
School of Public Health, which found
that NRT’s were not effective in
helping smokers quit long-term.
The study followed around 800
smokers who had quit over a
period of five years, and asked
them to complete surveys over
three time periods: 2001-2002,
2003-2004, and 2005-2006.
According to the survey
responses for each time period,
one-third of smokers relapsed,
with researchers finding that there
was no difference in relapse rate
among those who used NRT for
more than six weeks, with or
without professional counseling.
ASMI has however hit out at the
findings saying “the author of the
Harvard study notes that his own
survey findings contrast with the
results of clinical studies which
have demonstrated NRT’s success”.
In addition ASMI cited the most
recent Cochrane review which
concluded that NRT almost doubles
the success rate of long-term
abstinence versus cold turkey.
“NRT is a clinically proven therapy
that reduces withdrawal symptoms,”
an ASMI statement said.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 12 Jan 12To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 12 Jan 12
