If the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lowers the nicotine content of cigarettes dramatically, would quit-smoking aids like nicotine-containing gum become obsolete?

That was the topic of a story appearing in Daily Beast, which quoted Michael Fiore, MD, MPH, MBA, professor, General Internal Medicine and director, UW Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention.

In March, FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced that the agency is considering reducing the amount of nicotine in cigarettes to “[minimal] or non-addictive levels." 

The article discussed the effectiveness of nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT) to date. 

"Smoking is a very complex physical and social dependency, but nicotine replacement therapy has allowed people who want to quit to be able to do so," said Dr. Fiore.

Resources:

• "Can Nicorette Really Help Smokers Quit?," Daily Beast, March 19, 2018