In 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 7 out of every 10 American smokers reported that they wanted to quit completely.

A new study led by investigators at the UW Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (CTRI) is trying to find the most effective smoking cessation strategies, including combining prescription smoking cessation medication and nicotine patch to help people quit.

Megan Piper, PhD, associate professor, General Internal Medicine and CTRI, spoke about the study in an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio.

She explained, "We want to know what happens when you add the nicotine patch to the pill [varenicline], and rather than using it for three months, what happens if you use the pill or the pill and the patch for six months. Does that help people quit, and stay 'quit' longer?"

Both medication and coaching are key to success, advised Dr. Piper.

Resources:

• "UW Study To Look At Different Approaches To Help Smokers Quit," Wisconsin Public Radio, January 10, 2018
• Sign up for QUITS Research Study - UW Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention