Smokingcessation in women

“It is a testament to the power of tobacco addiction that millions of tobacco users have been unable to overcome their dependence and save themselves from its consequences: perpetual worry, unceasing expense, and compromised health” (Fiore MC, Bailey WC, Cohen SJ, et al., 2000). Nearly one quarter of the women in this country smoke, and it is the leading cause of preventable death in U.S. women. Smoking during pregnancy contributes significantly to medical complications suffered by both mother and fetus. Despite these statistics, many medical schools and residency programs do not give adequate training on smoking cessation interventions. The U.S. Public Health Service has outlined an effective and fairly simple strategy that can be integrated into any office setting. An organized clinical approach with properly trained staff can improve the quality of life for thousands of women and infants and save millions of dollars across the country. It takes a few extra minutes of a physician’s time, but those few minutes have a significant impact on a patient’s quitting success. This article describes current trends in smoking prevalence, the latest facts about nicotine replacement therapy, and the U.S. Public Health Service’s and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ (ACOG) approved recommendations for smoking cessation.