If you’re thinking of giving up smoking, you’re probably wondering what the benefits of NRT are – and whether it can really help you to quit.
NRT – or nicotine replacement therapy – has been around in some form since the late 1970s and was approved first approved for use in the United States in 1984. Since NRT was first introduced, we’ve seen many different forms developed and released, with many clinical trials conducted over the years to assess its effectiveness.
These trials have shown that using NRT can increase your chances of stopping smoking quite considerably, with ranges of efficiency between 50% and 70%. If you’ve struggled to stop smoking using will-power alone or if you’re a particularly heavy smoker, could NRT really help you to quit for good?
Seven key benefits of NRT
While it’s certainly true that not every method of giving up smoking will work for everyone, there are some compelling benefits of using nicotine replacement therapy in your fight to become an ex-smoker. Here are the main ones:
1. NRT does what it says on the tin
It replaces the addictive ingredient of nicotine found in cigarettes and tobacco products, but without all of the other nasty ones, including around 60 cancer-causing chemicals.
2. NRT reduces your nicotine intake
Once you’ve worked out the right dose for you (or have received appropriate advice from a professional), you’ll not only be using less nicotine, but your body will also be absorbing it more slowly. It also gives you the ability to gradually reduce your intake further, slowly weaning you off the cigarettes for good.
3. The nicotine contained in NRT products isn’t the same as nicotine in tobacco goods
Which means it’s less addictive – studies have shown that users are unlikely to form any long-term dependence on replacement therapies.
4. You can combine different types of NRT approaches
In order to find a tailored solution to suit your personal needs, so it offers flexibility that in turn can make it even more effective in your quest to quit.
Despite the common misconception that nicotine replacement therapies are super-expensive, when you consider that their use is generally for the short to mid-term in comparison to being a long-term smoker, over the course of time NRT will actually save you money (not to mention the price-tag on your health).
Without something to replace the nicotine you were receiving through your smoking activities, you’re likely to find those cravings get the better of you. NRT releases enough nicotine to create the dopamine release that smoking used to give you, helping to curb the cravings and hold your resolve.
Trying to quit smoking without any type of replacement leaves you at the mercy of will-power alone, especially when faced with your common smoking triggers such as your morning coffee, social drinks, stressful situations and straight after a meal. Nicotine replacements give you an effective way to navigate these situations, as you learn to adjust to life without smoking.
Ultimately, if you’re serious about giving up smoking but don’t feel you’re able to do so without a little practical help, these benefits of NRT demonstrate how it can be a more effective approach than going ‘cold turkey’.