Content about Smoking cessation

September 4, 2012
FDA approves Wockhardt antidepressant

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic antidepressant made by Wockhardt, the Indian drug maker said Tuesday.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic antidepressant made by Wockhardt, the Indian drug maker said Tuesday.

Wockhardt announced the FDA approval of its bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets in the 100 mg, 150 mg and 200 mg strengths.

The drug is a generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's Wellbutrin SR, various versions of which have a market of about $268 million, according to IMS Health.

August 16, 2012
Report: Nicotine replacement product sales to reach $6.2 billion worldwide by 2018

Global sales of nicotine replacement products are expected to reach $6.2 billion in 2018, following compound annual growth rates of 4.5% between now and then, GBI Research reported Wednesday.

NEW YORK — Global sales of nicotine replacement products are expected to reach $6.2 billion in 2018, following compound annual growth rates of 4.5% between now and then, GBI Research reported Wednesday.

August 3, 2012
Study: No battle of the sexes when it comes to successfully quitting smoking

There is little difference between success in quitting smoking between men and women, according a recent study published in the journal Tobacco Control, the Society for Women's Health Research announced Thursday.

WASHINGTON — There is little difference between success in quitting smoking between men and women, according a recent study published in the journal Tobacco Control, the Society for Women's Health Research announced Thursday. The theory had been that women were less successful than men, the researchers noted.

April 6, 2012
CDC's stop smoking ad campaign results in a sharp spike in quit attempts

Sales of smoking-cessation products may realize a March boom following a recent government advertising campaign that encourages Americans to quit smoking.

ATLANTA — Sales of smoking-cessation products may realize a March boom following a recent government advertising campaign that encourages Americans to quit smoking.

One week following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's launch of its Tips from Former Smokers campaign, calls to the 1-800-QUIT-NOW quitline were up 130.4%, the agency reported Monday. Calls were up an additional 3.5% in the subsequent week.

A record 34,413 calls were fielded between March 26 and April 1, the CDC reported.

March 30, 2012
GSK advocates broadening scope of nicotine replacement therapy

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare strongly supported efforts to inform smokers of the impact tobacco use has on the body, as well as effective ways to quit, during a congressional briefing Friday that was sponsored by Reps. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Tim Murphy, R-Pa.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare strongly supported efforts to inform smokers of the impact tobacco use has on the body, as well as effective ways to quit, during a congressional briefing Friday that was sponsored by Reps. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Tim Murphy, R-Pa.

The briefing, entitled "Understanding Smoking Addiction and How to Accelerate Quitting," addressed how to improve the nation's policies and programs to help smokers become tobacco free.

February 28, 2012
Study: More people show interest in weight loss

The number of working people concerned about their weight is on the rise, according to a new study.

CHICAGO — The number of working people concerned about their weight is on the rise, according to a new study.

Results of a poll released Tuesday by ComPsych, a company that calls itself the world's largest provider of employee assistance programs, indicated that 43% of employees cited weight loss as their primary health concern, a number that was 10% higher than in 2011.

February 21, 2012
Walgreens partners with Kentucky Medicaid health plan on smoking cessation

Walgreens on Tuesday partnered with Passport Health Plan, a local Medicaid health plan in Louisville, Ky., on a new smoking-cessation program that launched in early January.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Tuesday partnered with Passport Health Plan, a local Medicaid health plan in Louisville, Ky.,  on a new smoking-cessation program that launched in early January. The program is free to Walgreens customers and Passport members and aims to improve the community’s health by giving smokers the tools, resources and ongoing clinical pharmacist counseling to help them achieve their cessation goals.

January 20, 2012
Study: Many don’t inform doctors of smoking habit

Approximately 13% of smokers do not disclose their tobacco habit to their healthcare provider, according to a recent survey released by the American Legacy Foundation.

WASHINGTON — Approximately 13% of smokers do not disclose their tobacco habit to their healthcare provider, according to a recent survey released by the American Legacy Foundation. And while a majority of smokers did admit their smoking status, only some 25% sought help from their doctors or healthcare providers during their last attempt to quit. 


January 10, 2012
Harvard School survey asserts NRT ineffective in spite of body of evidence to the contrary

Nicotine replacement therapies designed to help people stop smoking, specifically nicotine patches and nicotine gum, do not appear to be effective in helping smokers quit long-term, even when combined with smoking-cessation counseling, according to a new survey by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Massachusetts Boston posted in an advance online edition of Tobacco Control Monday.

BOSTON — Nicotine replacement therapies designed to help people stop smoking, specifically nicotine patches and nicotine gum, do not appear to be effective in helping smokers quit long-term, even when combined with smoking-cessation counseling, according to a new survey by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Massachusetts Boston posted in an advance online edition of Tobacco Control Monday.

January 6, 2012
Survey: 1-in-10 patients don't tell their healthcare practitioner they're still smoking

Approximately 13% of smokers do not disclose their tobacco habit to their healthcare provider, according to a survey released Friday by Legacy.

WASHINGTON — Approximately 13% of smokers do not disclose their tobacco habit to their healthcare provider, according to a survey released Friday by Legacy.

And while a majority of smokers did admit their smoking status, only some 25% sought help from their doctors or healthcare providers during their last quit attempt.

January 3, 2012
Job listing for Geisinger Health System — smokers need not apply

Geisinger Health System may be the largest employer to discriminate against a declining minority — smokers — beginning Feb. 1.

DANVILLE, Pa. — Geisinger Health System may be the largest employer to discriminate against a declining minority — smokers — beginning Feb. 1.

Geisinger last week announced it will no longer hire job applicants who use tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars and chewing or smokeless tobacco.

December 29, 2011
Sam's Club unveils New Year's resolutions-based health screenings program

To help its members keep their New Year's resolutions, including weight loss, eating better and quitting smoking, Sam's Club will offer a variety of free in-club health screenings and smoking-cessation consultations.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — To help its members keep their New Year's resolutions, including weight loss, eating better and quitting smoking, Sam's Club will offer a variety of free in-club health screenings and smoking-cessation consultations.

December 19, 2011
Study: Quitting smoking could breathe new happiness into life

Compared with those who continue to smoke, quitters are both happier and more satisfied with their health, both one year and three years afterward, than those who continue to smoke, according to new research published last week in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine.

NEW YORK — Compared with those who continue to smoke, quitters are both happier and more satisfied with their health, both one year and three years afterward, than those who continue to smoke, according to new research published last week in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine.

Smokers hold strong beliefs about how stopping smoking will reduce their quality of life. Positive experiences of smoking cessation, including improved well-being, could be used by clinicians to educate and motivate individuals to stop smoking.

December 6, 2011
Healthcare scorecard: The bad offsets the good

United Health Foundation’s "2011 America’s Heath Rankings," released Tuesday, found that increases in obesity, diabetes and children in poverty are offsetting improvements in smoking cessation, preventable hospitalizations and cardiovascular deaths.

MINNETONKA, Minn. — United Health Foundation’s "2011 America’s Heath Rankings," released Tuesday, found that increases in obesity, diabetes and children in poverty are offsetting improvements in smoking cessation, preventable hospitalizations and cardiovascular deaths. According to the report, the country’s overall health did not improve between 2010 and 2011 — a drop from the 0.5% average annual rate of improvement between 2000 and 2010, and the 1.6% average annual rate of improvement seen in the 1990s.

November 11, 2011
CDC: 7-in-10 smokers want to quit; half have tried in past year

Most American adults who smoke wish they could quit, and more than half have tried within the past year, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Thursday.

ATLANTA — Most American adults who smoke wish they could quit, and more than half have tried within the past year, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Thursday.

October 20, 2011
Hamacher identifies six front-end growth drivers for independents

Hamacher Resource Group identified six categories — first aid, eye/ear care, sun care, smoking cessation, durable medical equipment (including incontinence products) and foot care — that are selling better in independent pharmacies over chain pharmacies as part of a white paper released Thursday.

WAUKESHA, Wis. — Hamacher Resource Group identified six categories — first aid, eye/ear care, sun care, smoking cessation, durable medical equipment (including incontinence products) and foot care — that are selling better in independent pharmacies over chain pharmacies as part of a white paper released Thursday.

September 15, 2011
Quitting smoking can turn that frown upside down

University of Missouri researchers earlier this week revealed evidence that showed those who quit smoking show improvements in their overall personality.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri researchers earlier this week revealed evidence that showed those who quit smoking show improvements in their overall personality.

"The data indicate that for some young adults, smoking is impulsive," stated Andrew Littlefield, a doctoral student in the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Science. "That means that 18 year olds are acting without a lot of forethought, and favor immediate rewards over long-term, negative consequences."

August 26, 2011
HHS boosts smoking cessation, vaccinations with $137 million to states

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday awarded $137 million to states to boost prevention and public health initiatives, including support for smoking-cessation programs and vaccinations.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday awarded $137 million to states to boost prevention and public health initiatives, including support for smoking-cessation programs and vaccinations.

Awarded in nearly every state, the grants enhance state, tribal, local and territorial efforts to provide tobacco cessation services, strengthen public health laboratory and immunization services, prevent healthcare-associated infections, and provide comprehensive substance abuse prevention and treatment.

July 28, 2011
Study finds most smokers lack knowledge on ways to quit smoking

Almost half of all smokers try and fail to quit their addiction to nicotine products each year, according to a study released Wednesday.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Almost half of all smokers try and fail to quit their addiction to nicotine products each year, according to a study released Wednesday.

A contributing factor to the high rate of failed quit attempts is the low use of nicotine-replacement therapies, the study found. That may be because of misperceptions around the health effects of NRTs.

July 5, 2011
Quit smoking queries see spike

New graphic cigarette warning labels released last month by the Food and Drug Administration already appear to be having one desired effect: an increase in "quit smoking" queries to the national 1-800-QUIT-NOW smoking cessation line, the Associated Press reported Saturday.

ATLANTA — New graphic cigarette warning labels released last month by the Food and Drug Administration already appear to be having one desired effect: an increase in "quit smoking" queries to the national 1-800-QUIT-NOW smoking cessation line, the Associated Press reported Saturday.

The new labels aren’t even on cigarette packages yet — the labels will be implemented next year.

March 4, 2011
5 OTC remedies for American health care

The Obama administration on the official White House website identifies “5 Important Numbers on Health Reform.” These include:

  • Zero. The amount consumers would have to pay for premiums, co-insurance or co-payments on any preventive services;

  • Fifty. The number of states that now offer insurance options to all people, regardless of any pre-existing conditions;

  • One million. The number of doughnut-hole rebate checks mailed to seniors under Part D as of August 2010;

December 7, 2010
FDA studies effectiveness, benefits 
of long-term smoking-cessation therapy

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration is exploring the benefits associated with the long-term use of nicotine-replacement therapy products, a factor expected to both extend the amount of time a person avails themselves of the smoking-cessation therapy, as well as increase the success rates for quit attempts. 


October 29, 2010
Target launches anti-smoking campaign with American Cancer Society

MINNEAPOLIS — Target announced that it is launching a month-long anti-smoking campaign in connection with the American Cancer Society's 2010 Great American Smokeout to support guests and team members in their efforts to quit smoking.

October 27, 2010
GSK Consumer Healthcare applauds FDA's workshop on NRT products

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare on Thursday commended the Food and Drug Administration for holding a scientific...

PARSIPPANY, N.J. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare on Thursday commended the Food and Drug Administration for holding a scientific workshop this week that focused on the risks and benefits associated with the long-term use of nicotine-replacement therapy products.

 

September 23, 2010
'Smoking Sucks,' but quitting doesn't with new cessation lollipops

Kicking the habit never tasted so good....

WEST HILLS, Calif. Kicking the habit never tasted so good.

Three Lollies, the maker of PreggiePops and QueasyDrops, has launched Smoking Sucks lollipops for those looking to quit smoking. The new line of smoking-cessation pops are formulated with essential oils and amino acids, including L-tryptophan, which is a naturally occurring amino acid that some sources believe may help with cravings when people are attempting to quit smoking, Three Lollies said.

The pops are available in wintergreen, pineapple and cinnamon varieties.