Why Your Doctor Might Not Be Able To Help You Quit Cigarettes

October 30th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under • by tisha

Quitting smoking has been a constant theme in the health care industry, in the government, and in our own homes. There are many people who have tried and successfully kicked the habit of cigarette smoking and many more who have not. With the price of everything going up across the board, cigarettes have been becoming more and more of a luxury item than ever before. At nearly $5.00 a pack, many smokers can no longer afford the habit and seemingly have little choice but to quit if they want to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.

For anyone who has ever been or still is a smoker, there is no doubt that quitting is hard. Regardless of whether or not you are doing it solely for health reasons or just because you no longer have the money or the desire to smoke, it sometimes takes a lot more than willpower to get off the addiction to nicotine. Some smokers will rely on the advice and the assistance of their family physician but you may be surprised to learn that your doctor might not be able to help you. Sure, many doctors can easily tell you to stop smoking for your own good, but that’s where many draw the line.

The reason physicians are unable to help is because they lack the training for dealing appropriately and adequately with tobacco dependence and nicotine addictions. Many smokers will attempt to quit and fail several times without additional assistance. A reported 70% of current smokers actually want to quit but are unable to find success without additional help and the assistance of their own medical doctor. As patients who rely on the advice of our own medical provider for help, the lack of knowledge and training could indeed hurt a successful chance at quitting for good.

If you are thinking about kicking the habit, talk to your doctor about what they recommend. Do not be afraid to ask if he/she has been training in smoking cessation. If they admit to the lack of knowledge, inquire about where to go next for support and professional intervention outside your doctor’s office. A doctor should want to help you find the right resources to quit smoking. Perhaps they can give you a medical referral to seek additional treatment for the addiction issues.

Quitting smoking is a step in the right direction for improving your health and avoiding long-term medical issues that can get quite costly. Plus, by not having to purchase a pack of smokes everyday, you can end up saving thousands of dollars each year, which is a great start to a new plan for savings.