Are There Other Ways to Quit Tobacco?

You’ve probably heard about other ways to quit tobacco. Different methods work for different people. There is no one right way to quit.

But some tools and methods you read or hear about are unproven. Some might even cause health risks. It’s important to understand which quit-tobacco methods have been proven safe and effective and which have not.

Does it work to quit cold turkey or with gradual withdrawal?

Many people who smoke quit cold turkey – they stop completely, all at once, with no medicines or nicotine replacement. More people quit cold turkey than by using assistance. But the chances of a successful quit attempt are much higher if you use assistance.

Another way to quit is with gradual withdrawal – cutting down on the number of cigarettes you smoke a little bit each day. This way, you slowly reduce the amount of nicotine in your body. You might cut out cigarettes smoked with a cup of coffee, or you might decide to smoke only at certain times of the day.

It makes sense to cut down before your quit date in order to reduce withdrawal symptoms, but this can be hard to do. It's important to know that just cutting back and not quitting has minimal health benefits.

What about smoking deterrents?

Other methods have been used to help stop smoking, such as over-the-counter products that change the taste of tobacco, stop-smoking diets that curb nicotine cravings, and combinations of vitamins. At this time there’s no research that any of these work.

Is it safe to use filters and other types of nicotine to stop smoking?

Some people try to quit smoking by switching to filters or other ways to get nicotine that have not been approved by the FDA. These products have not been proven safe and effective.

Filters

Filters that reduce tar and nicotine in cigarettes do not help people quit smoking. They also don’t reduce the health risks from smoking.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes)

E-cigarettes (vape pens) and similar devices are not approved by the FDA for use as smoking cessation aids (aids to help people stop smoking). This is because there’s just not enough research or evidence yet.

Still, some people who smoke choose to try e-cigarettes to help them stop smoking. But people who switch from smoking cigarettes to using e-cigarettes still expose themselves to potentially serious ongoing health risks. It’s important to stop using all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, as soon as possible both to reduce health risks and to avoid staying addicted to nicotine.

Some people use  tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes at the same time on an ongoing basis, whether they are trying to quit or not. This is known as “dual use.”

The dual use of e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes can lead to significant health risks because smoking any amount of regular cigarettes is very harmful. People should not use both products at the same time and are strongly encouraged to completely stop using all tobacco products.

Tobacco lozenges and pouches

The FDA has ruled that lozenges, pouches, strips, sticks that contain nicotine, and small pouches of tobacco that you hold in your mouth are all considered smokeless tobacco products and are not smoking cessation aids. This includes products like Snus and Zyn pouches.

There’s no evidence that these products can help a person quit smoking. Studies also show that these products can cause nicotine addiction and may contain chemicals that can increase the risk of cancer.

Nicotine lollipops, lip balms, drinks, and straws

Nicotine has been added to drinks, lollipops, straws, and lip balms which are marketed as quit tools. None of these are approved by the FDA. In fact, some of these products are illegal in the US. None have been shown to help people quit smoking.

They also pose a risk for children and pets if they are not well-labeled, carefully stored, and disposed of safely.

Non-invasive brain stimulation

Studies looking at the use of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) have shown some promise. The FDA cleared the use of one system for this purpose: deep repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (Deep TMS™). This is different than FDA approval. It only means the system was found safe to use in people.

Studies are still being done to find out who would most benefit from this approach and how long people stay quit after using it to stop smoking.

Hypnosis

Hypnosis methods vary a great deal. This makes it hard to study as a way to stop smoking. Most studies of hypnosis for quitting tobacco have not shown it to work better than other counseling methods.

Still, some people say it helps. If you’d like to try it, ask your health care provider to recommend a licensed therapist who does hypnotherapy.

Acupuncture and acupressure

Acupuncture and acupressure have been studied separately and together. These methods have been used to quit smoking, but there’s little evidence to show that they work.

Auricular acupressure (magnets and seeds)

One acupressure method involves placing seeds or magnets on specific parts of the ears. Studies to date have not shown that this type of acupressure helps people stop smoking, especially in the long term.

There are many on-line companies that sell these magnets, and they report various “success” rates. But there’s no research data to back up these claims.

Cold laser therapy

Cold laser therapy (also called low level laser therapy) is related to acupuncture. In this method, cold lasers are used instead of needles for acupuncture. Despite claims of success by some cold laser therapy providers, there is no scientific evidence that shows it helps people stop smoking.

Herbs and supplements

There is little scientific evidence to support the use of homeopathic aids and herbal supplements as stop-smoking aids. Because they are marketed as dietary supplements (not medicines), they don’t need FDA approval to be sold. This means manufacturers don’t have to prove they work, or even that they’re safe.

Be sure to look closely at the label of any product that claims it can help you stop smoking. No dietary supplement has been proven to help people quit smoking. Most of these supplements include combinations of herbs, but not nicotine. They have no proven track record of helping people stop smoking.

Mind-body practices

Some studies have looked at smoking cessation programs that use yoga, mindfulness, and meditation. Results were not clearly in favor of these methods, but some did show lower cravings and less smoking.

More research is needed, and studies of these practices are still going on. Cognitive processing methods (cognitive-behavioral approaches) are also being studied.