What to know
Tobacco dependence is treatable. You can play a critical role in helping patients quit tobacco use for good.
Overview
Tobacco dependence is a chronic, relapsing disorder. Like other chronic diseases, tobacco dependence often requires repeated intervention and long-term support.1The majority of people who use tobacco want to quit, but most try to quit multiple times before succeeding.2
Health care providers in a variety of settings play a critical role in helping people quit using tobacco1. Even brief advice from you can make your patients much more likely to try to quit—and ultimately succeed.1 Evidence-based treatment—including counseling and cessation medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—significantly increases success in quitting tobacco. 13You can make a difference!
Use the resources below to help ensure that your patients have the right tools to begin their quit journeys.
Visit the Health Effects page for more information about the health consequences of tobacco use.
- Fiore MC, Jaen CR, Baker TB, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update. Clinical Practice Guideline. Public Health Service, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services; 2008.
- Babb, S, Malarcher A, Schauer G, Asman K, Jamal A. Quitting Smoking Among Adults – United States, 2000-2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2017;65(52):1457–1464.
- U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Smoking—50 Years of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General. U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services; 2014.