Stop smoking aids are ‘big business’ the world over. There are literally hundreds of solutions to every smokers desire to quit. Every smoker has thought about quitting at some point and almost every one of them has some idea of what aid they would use to help them.
But with so many ‘guaranteed’ options available, how does one choose the best stop smoking aid? Well, invariably, you do what most people do and choose to remain a smoker.
From the abundance of nicotine gum, lozenges and patches available to aid those who want to stop smoking, it’s a wonder anyone has trouble quitting at all.
No stop smoking aid is going to be a 100% effective. There is no magic formula here. You do however have to get started somewhere and if you need some help to quit then perhaps starting with the top three most popular aids would be best.
1. Nicotine Chewing Gum
Nicotine gum is a chewing gum that delivers nicotine into the bloodstream with the intention of aiding in gradual smoking cessation. Each piece of gum typically contains 2 or 4 mg of nicotine, roughly equivalent to 1 or 2 cigarettes. Your dosage would depend on your smoking habits.
2. Nicotine Lozenges
The nicotine lozenge is one of the newest forms of quit smoking aids. It is a sugar-free hard sweet that you suck slowly in order to release the nicotine. It is similar to nicotine chewing gum, in that the nicotine is absorbed through the lining of the mouth and absorbed into the bloodstream. It is also available in 2 or 4mg.
3. The Patch
The nicotine patch is placed on your skin and comes in 21 mg, 14mg or 7 mg. Most patches are worn for 16 or 24 hours and are replaced with a new one on a different area of skin. Nicotine is absorbed through the skin while the patch is on and your dosage will depend on how many cigarettes you smoke a day.
For those people who have a nicotine addiction to smokeless tobacco, all of these stop smoking aids will also work. Many people who use smokeless tobacco find that the nicotine gum works the best. The gum can be chewed and then be put in between the cheek and gum for the feel of the tobacco.
You may try a certain type of quit aid and it may not work for you, either because of your lifestyle or because of your personal preference. Don’t worry about this; it is normal for those trying to quit to try various options The point is to try whatever it takes to stop.