1. Help
2. Smoking Information
3. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), the Facts

It is easier to stop using a form of NRT than it is to stop smoking. NRT does not give you the satisfaction you get from smoking. The amount of nicotine introduced into the bloodstream is less than that obtained from cigarette smoke. The nicotine is absorbed much slower and gradually under NRT so you do not experience the same nicotine 'hit' that you do with cigarettes. NRT does not recreate the pleasurable effect that you get from the sudden surge of nicotine when you smoke. The NRT programmes are designed to help you wean yourself off your nicotine dependence. It has been estimated that fewer than 5% of people who stop smoking using NRT gum are still using the gum over a year later. As mentioned above, NRT makes less nicotine available to the body than smoking. Sometimes this is not enough to overcome the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. For example, if you were a heavy smoker and find that the 2mg gum is not strong enough you may be better to start by using the 4mg gum. The use of NRT 4mg gum has been shown to be more effective with heavy smokers over time than the 2mg gum. It has also been reported that there is a direct link between quit rates and the amount of gum taken daily. The key is to make sure that you are receiving enough nicotine through NRT to overcome your craving for nicotine. This is the number one reason why people begin smoking again. Like smoking, it may take time for each individual to learn to use NRT in a manner that maximizes its benefits.