How Does Smoking Cessation Therapy Help You Quit?

How Does Smoking Cessation Therapy Help You Quit?

The month of November is dedicated to discussing the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States: lung cancer. While advances in screening and treatment continue to improve outcomes, prevention remains one of the most powerful tools we have. Because cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer, quitting can significantly reduce a person's risk and improve overall health. For the vast majority of people, however, quitting is far easier said than done. Nicotine addiction is both physical and psychological, making it difficult to stop even when someone is highly motivated. Help is almost always needed to be successful. Smoking cessation therapy can provide the support, strategies, and tools many individuals need to quit for good.

How Many Americans Still Smoke?

While smoking rates in the United States have declined dramatically over the past several decades, millions of Americans still smoke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 9.1% of U.S. adults currently smoke cigarettes, which represents roughly 23 million Americans. This means that smoking remains a major public health issue and continues to be a leading cause of preventable disease and death.

How Many Smokers Have Tried to Quit?

According to the most recent research, most smokers do not want to continue smoking indefinitely.

The CDC reports that:

• 67.7% of smokers say they want to quit.
• More than half (53.3%) of smokers attempted to quit in the previous year.
• Fewer than 1 in 10 smokers successfully quit each year when attempting to stop.

These statistics highlight an important reality: motivation alone is often not enough. Many people make multiple quit attempts before achieving long-term success.

Why Aren't More Smokers Using Proven Quitting Treatments?

One of the most surprising facts about smoking cessation is that while most smokers want to quit, relatively few use the treatments that have been shown to improve their chances of success. According to the CDC, fewer than 4 in 10 adults who smoke and attempt to quit use evidence-based methods such as counseling, quitline services, or FDA-approved cessation medications. At the same time, fewer than 10% of adults who try to quit succeed in remaining smoke-free for at least a year.

Experts believe several factors contribute to this gap between wanting to quit and seeking treatment:

Lack of Awareness About Available Resources

Many individuals simply do not know what smoking cessation therapy involves or how effective it can be. Some are unaware that treatment may include counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), support groups, quit coaching, nicotine replacement therapy, or prescription medications. Others may not realize that free resources such as 1-800-QUIT-NOW and state-sponsored tobacco cessation programs are available.

Previous Failed Attempts Can Discourage Future Treatment

Because many smokers have tried to quit multiple times, they may begin to believe they are incapable of quitting altogether. These discouraging experiences can make people less likely to pursue formal treatment, even though multiple quit attempts are common and often part of the quitting process.

Stigma and Self-Blame

Many individuals report feeling embarrassed or ostracized about their smoking or believe they should be able to quit on their own. This sense of self-blame may prevent them from seeking help. In reality, needing support is not a sign of weakness. Nicotine addiction is a chronic condition, and seeking treatment is no different than seeking care for any other health concern.

Mental Health and Stress Can Create Additional Barriers

Smoking rates remain disproportionately high among people with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders. While it is not always clear whether smoking is the cause or effect of these disorders, many smokers reportedly rely on nicotine to cope with stress, which can make the idea of quitting feel overwhelming. Behavioral health support can help individuals develop healthier coping strategies while navigating nicotine withdrawal.

Misperceptions About Vaping

Some smokers switch to e-cigarettes believing they are a long-term solution to tobacco addiction. While some adults have used vaping as part of a transition away from cigarettes, many become dependent on nicotine-containing vape products instead. This can delay or replace efforts to pursue comprehensive cessation treatment and achieve nicotine freedom altogether.

What Is the Link Between Smoking and Lung Cancer?

Smoking is the single greatest risk factor for lung cancer.

Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including dozens of known carcinogens. Every puff exposes the lungs to substances that can damage DNA within healthy cells. Over time, this damage accumulates, increasing the likelihood that cells will grow uncontrollably and develop into cancer.

According to the CDC and National Cancer Institute:

• Smoking causes approximately 80% to 90% of lung cancer deaths.
• Both current and former smokers face an elevated risk of lung cancer.
• The risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked and the number of years a person has smoked.
• Exposure to secondhand smoke also increases lung cancer risk.

The encouraging news is that quitting smoking begins reducing risk almost immediately. While former smokers may never reach the same risk level as someone who has never smoked, their risk continues to decline with each year they remain smoke-free.

Why Is Quitting So Difficult?

Many people mistakenly believe smoking is simply a bad habit. But the nicotine found in cigarettes is a highly addictive substance that causes significant physical withdrawal symptoms and strong cravings. The addiction is also compounded by psychological dependence upon the act of smoking itself and its association with stress-relief and social/environmental triggers.

The combination of physical and behavioral factors helps explain why many smokers relapse despite strong intentions to quit.

What Is Smoking Cessation Therapy?

Smoking cessation therapy is a structured treatment approach designed to help individuals overcome nicotine dependence and build skills for long-term success.

Treatment may include one or more of the following, depending on the patient:

Behavioral Counseling

A therapist helps identify smoking triggers, unhealthy patterns, and situations that increase the urge to smoke. Counseling often focuses on:

• Managing cravings
• Stress reduction techniques
• Developing healthier coping mechanisms
• Creating a personalized quit plan
• Preventing relapse

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is also commonly used in smoking cessation programs. Whereas behavioral therapy focuses on outside actions and habits, CBT focuses more on the thoughts and patterns that contribute to tobacco use. The process uses different techniques to replace unhealthy thoughts with more realistic alternatives.

Examples include replacing thoughts such as: "I need a cigarette to calm down." CBT gives you tools to reframe what your brain sees as a demand and immediate solution. What you may learn to tell yourself instead is something like, "I am feeling stressed right now, and my brain is looking for a quick fix. A cigarette will only keep this loop going. I can choose to take five deep breaths and let this craving pass without acting on it."

This thought pattern validates the discomfort without excusing and relying on a prior unhealthy behavior.

Group Support

It can be incredibly beneficial to seek support from your peers. Regular group support sessions can help individuals stay motivated, track progress, and troubleshoot challenges during the quitting process.

Medication Support

Smoking cessation therapy is often combined with evidence-based medications to help lessen nicotine cravings and reduce uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal. Some of the most commonly used include:

• Nicotine patches
• Nicotine gum
• Nicotine lozenges
• Nicotine inhalers
• Nicotine nasal sprays
• Varenicline (Chantix)
• Bupropion (Zyban)

Is Smoking Cessation Therapy More Effective Than Quitting Cold Turkey?

In most cases, yes. Research consistently shows that smokers who use evidence-based counseling and medication have significantly higher quit rates than those who try to quit on their own.

The CDC reports that using counseling and FDA-approved medications together provides the best chance of quitting successfully. A separate study found that the combination of medication and behavioral counseling was associated with a quit rate of about 15% over a six month period versus 8 percent of patients who did not receive this type of care. In other words, nearly twice the quit rate was observed.

While quitting "cold turkey" is not, typically, medically dangerous and some are able to accomplish it, others experience such intense cravings and side effects that they relapse. Smoking cessation therapy helps address both the addiction and the behaviors associated with smoking, improving the odds of long-term success.

The reality is that quitting smoking is rarely a matter of willpower alone. It is often a process that benefits from professional support, evidence-based treatment, and a personalized plan.

What About Vaping?

Many people assume vaping is harmless because it does not involve traditional cigarettes or their smoke. However, e-cigarettes still deliver nicotine, which is the source of the addiction. And, while current research suggests that vaping exposes users to fewer toxic chemicals than combustible cigarettes, it is not risk-free. Scientists are still studying the long-term health effects of e-cigarette use.

Common concerns, besides nicotine dependence and its health risks, include:

• Lung irritation and inflammation
• Cardiovascular effects
• Exposure to potentially harmful chemicals and aerosols

In addition, some people become dual users, meaning they both vape and smoke cigarettes, which may reduce the potential health benefits of switching.

Can Smoking Cessation Therapy Help People Quit Vaping?

Absolutely. The same behavioral patterns seen in cigarette addiction often occur with vaping. Smoking cessation therapists can help those who vape with nicotine dependence, cravings, emotional triggers, and unhealthy coping strategies.

As vaping becomes more common among both adults and adolescents, healthcare professionals are increasingly adapting traditional smoking cessation approaches to support vaping cessation as well.

Benefits of Quitting Start Sooner Than You Think

Many people assume the damage from smoking has already been done. However, the body begins healing remarkably quickly after quitting.

Within 20 Minutes

Heart rate and blood pressure begin to return toward normal levels.

Within Weeks

Circulation improves, and lung function begins to increase.

Within Months

Coughing and shortness of breath often improve.

Within One Year

The risk of heart disease drops significantly (by 50%!).

By Five Years

Your risk of other cancers, including bladder, esophageal, mouth, and throat cancers is also cut in half.

Over Time

The risk of lung cancer, stroke, heart disease, and other smoking-related illnesses continues to decrease.

It is never too late. No matter how long someone has smoked, quitting can produce meaningful health benefits.

Should You Screen For Lung Cancer?

Not everyone needs to be routinely screened for lung cancer. However, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends annual lung cancer screening with a low-dose CT (LDCT) scan for adults who meet all of the following criteria:

• Age 50 to 80 years
• Have a 20 pack-year smoking history or greater
• Currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years

A "pack-year" is calculated by multiplying the number of packs smoked per day by the number of years smoked. For example:

• 1 pack per day for 20 years = 20 pack-years
• 2 packs per day for 10 years = 20 pack-years
• ½ pack per day for 40 years = 20 pack-years

When Should Screening Stop?

Annual screening should be discontinued if:

• A person has not smoked for 15 years, or
• They develop a serious health condition that substantially limits life expectancy or the ability to undergo lung surgery if cancer is found.

Why Is Screening Important?

Screening is important in high risk individuals because lung cancer often causes no symptoms in its earliest stages. By the time symptoms such as persistent cough, coughing up blood, unexplained weight loss, chest pain, or shortness of breath appear, the disease may already be advanced.

Low-dose CT screening can detect lung cancer earlier when treatment is more likely to be successful. Large studies have shown that annual low-dose CT screening can reduce lung cancer deaths in high-risk individuals because cancers are found before they spread.

Who Should Talk to Their Doctor Even If They Don't Meet the Guidelines?

While the USPSTF recommendations are the primary screening guidelines, individuals may benefit from discussing their risk if they have other risk factors, including:

• A strong family history of lung cancer
• Significant exposure to secondhand smoke
• Occupational exposures such as asbestos, diesel exhaust, silica, or radon
• Chronic lung diseases such as COPD or emphysema
• A previous cancer diagnosis involving the chest

These factors can increase lung cancer risk, even among people who are not current smokers.

At The Crane Center, our primary care physician can discuss your risk factors and determine if you require advanced screening.

Get Help Quitting Smoking For Good

Lung Cancer Awareness Month serves as an important reminder that, while lung cancer remains a serious health concern, many cases are preventable. Quitting smoking is one of the most powerful steps a person can take to protect their health and reduce their risk of lung cancer.

Quitting can be challenging, but you do not have to do it alone. Smoking cessation therapy combines proven behavioral techniques, accountability, and treatment strategies that can dramatically improve the likelihood of success. If you are in the Destin area and struggling with quitting smoking or vaping, please contact the professionals at The Crane Center. Our counselors offer both traditional and alternative therapies tailored to your unique needs, preferences, and history. We will help you achieve long-lasting results and regain control of your health. Text or go online today to schedule your consultation.