Conclusion:

"Since becoming available over the counter, NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy) appears no longer effective in increasing long-term successful cessation in California smokers."  (Emphasis added)

Study Size and Impact

This study involved 21,384 smokers in California.

These researchers acknowledged that the patch, the gum, and the lozenges are heavily promoted by both the drug industry and tobacco control advocates.

In research circles this study has received great attention and has been cited almost 100 times in other research.

Citation

This study was titled "Impact of Over-the-Counter Sales on Effectiveness of Pharmaceutical Aids for Smoking Cessation."

The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol 288, No. 10, PP 1260-1264.

Here is the abstract from the National Institute for Health. The last line of the abstract is the exact quote at the top of this page.

In case the other link goes bad, here's the Google search for the article.

Implications

The interesting thing, buried deep in the report, is that as the patch become more easily available the effectiveness went way down.

Perhaps, when you needed a doctor's prescription for the patch, only those smokers who were more motivated to quit got the patch.

Then, as the patch became more easily available, the less motivated could buy it and the results went straight down the tubes because the patch does not do anything for motivation.

Bottom Line

The conclusion "no longer effective" is about as clear and definitive as researchers ever get. No weasel words here.

Millions of dollars in drug company advertising and government promotion can not change the simple fact that the patch is "no longer effective."

In fact, today NRT is the most heavily advertised and promoted method to quit smoking. It really is a shame it is "no longer effective."

Of course, drug companies love repeat customers, which are great for padding their profits. But how's that for you?

Before you fall into their trap, consider, "Maybe the problem with quitting smoking is with their product, not me."

For something that does work see our stop smoking program.

More information on what works, what doesn't, and why

Smoking quit tips has the big picture take away from the research

Our stop smoking program has the scientifically proven best choice to quit smoking

The method of quit smoking study has the study background including:

• Citations and links
• Study authors and methods
• Study's reception in the research community
• Criteria for including the 633 separate studies, and more

Nice reasons to stop smoking has the really good news about quitting smoking

Side effects of quit smoking methods lists the shocking side effects by method, straight from the FDA

Ways to quit smoking has the full list of links to 15 methods

Important patch research explains the Journal of the American Medical Association article that concluded the patch and NRT was "No longer effective"

The IRS and quitting smoking shows that the IRS does not like weak methods like drugs and NRT at all