MANY "QUITTERS" RETURN TO SMOKING

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Researchers say studies extolling the short-term
quit-success rates of nicotine replacement therapies such as patches, gums,
and nasal sprays do not mention the high risk of relapse in the long-term.

Studies which follow nicotine-replacement users for periods of less than
one year "substantially overestimate lifelong (smoking) cessation" among
those trying to kick the habit, according to a study in the March 14th
issue of the British Medical Journal.

The study, led by Dr. Navneet Kapur of Manchester Royal Infirmary in
Manchester, England, focused on the long-term success rates of smokers
trying to quit with the aid of nicotine nasal spray (which awaits approval
by the US Food and Drug Administration).

The researchers say 227 heavy smokers agreed to try to quit, and received
either the nicotine nasal spray (116) or placebo (111) at the beginning of
the study. However, only 47 individuals managed to remain tobacco-free by
the end of a one-year period.

The investigators say 33 of those who had quit at one year were nasal spray
users, while the remaining 14 had been on placebo.

Researchers then followed those 47 individuals for a further period
averaging about 3.5 years. They found that smoking relapse rates during
that 1- to 3.5-year period were similar, regardless of whether the
individual had used the nicotine spray (45.9% relapsed) or placebo (52.1%).

"Our relapse rate is (also) similar to that in a trial of nicotine patches
(37% between years 1 and 3), and in a study using supportive counseling and
nicotine gum for five years (40% between years 1 and 5)," say the
Manchester authors.

The bottom line? While short-term studies (less than one year) may show
relatively high smoking-cessation success rates, the experts say
"substantial relapse" can occur among recent ex-smokers over the longer term.

Copyright © 1998 Reuters Limited.