Fresh welcomes NICE guidance on “Tobacco: harm-reduction approaches to smoking”
Fresh has welcomed new guidance from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence on reducing the harm from tobacco use amongst people who don’t feel able to quit smoking in one step published today (Wednesday 5th June).
The NICE public health guidance makes recommendations for using licensed nicotine-containing products to support smokers who want to:
o stop smoking without necessarily giving up nicotine.
o cut down their tobacco intake gradually before quitting
o smoke less
o stop smoking for a specific period of time only (e.g. whilst at work)
The guidance states that health professionals should advise people who smoke and want to try quitting, cutting down to quit, or smoke less, that this is easier when using licensed nicotine-containing products. Health professionals should also reassure people that licensed nicotine-containing products are a safe and effective way of reducing the harm from cigarettes, and that nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products have been shown as safe for up to 5 years’ use. Whatever approach people wish to try, they should be advised that there are no circumstances when it is safer to smoke than to use NRT products and experts believe that lifetime use of NRT will be considerably less harmful than smoking. The guidance also provides suggested best practice around the provision of face to face behavioural support to support smokers reduce the harm from smoking, and the availability of self-help materials.
Ailsa Rutter, Director of Fresh said: “It’s absolutely clear the best step that a smoker can take to improve their health is to stop smoking abruptly, and many people do so successfully. However, this new guidance recognises that some people are highly dependent on nicotine, especially heavier smokers who have smoked since their teens.
“Smoking still causes 4,000 deaths in the North East every year – 11 people a day. Despite record numbers of people quitting, 455,000 adults continue to smoke regularly. The tragedy is that thousands of people will die from smoking or suffer smoking related diseases having made numerous quit attempts and wishing they could stop. Cutting down to quit, or maintaining NRT use to avoid relapse, could help save lives.
“We welcome positive action to offer more flexible attempts to help reduce the harm caused by smoking that might appeal to some smokers and ultimately give them a better chance of quitting altogether successfully.”
The cost to the NHS in England of treating smoking-related illnesses is an estimated £2.7 billion a year. The harm caused by smoking is due to the toxins and carcinogens in tobacco smoke, not nicotine. However, nicotine is addictive, which is why people find it so difficult to stop smoking. One in five adults in England smoke, with the prevalence in the North East currently at 21.2% (Integrated Household Survey April 2011-March 2012)[1]. Around 66% of people who smoke say they’d like to quit (General Lifestyle Survey 2011[2])
[1] http://www.lho.org.uk/viewResource.aspx?id=16678
[2] http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/ghs/general-lifestyle-survey/2011/index.html