Introduce Issue
Like most people, you already know that smoking is bad for your health. But do you really understand just how dangerous smoking really is? Tobacco contains nicotine, a highly addictive drug that makes it difficult for smokers to kick the habit. Tobacco products also contain many poisonous and harmful substances that cause disease and premature death. Did you know that out of a group of 1000 smokers (age 30), that a full quarter of them (250!) will die of smoking-related illnesses prior to completing middle age, an additional quarter will die prematurely from smoking-related illnesses shortly after retirement age, and another large group will develop disabling chronic illnesses as a result of their smoking?.For many people, truly understanding the very real dangers associated with smoking becomes the motivating factor that helps them to quit. A related statement is that “95% of all smokers who quit do so on their own.” In fact, with all the new treatments, one-third of smokers who quit now do so via treatment,6 a rate of treatment use greater than that for alcoholism or obesity.7 Some clinicians do not believe brief advice is effective; however, many randomized trials indicate that even brief advice increases quit rates.8,9 Some clinicians do not believe they have the time to provide advice; however, the major role clinicians play is to motivate smokers to quit, which can take as little as 3 minutes (Table 1).8 Some clinicians fear they may embarrass their patients by discussing the topic; however, exit polls suggest that most smokers state doctors who do not ask about their smoking habits are less competent doctors.