Effective Tobacco Dependence Treatment

MORE THAN AT ANY TIME IN the past, clinicians, public health professionals, and policy makers now possess sufficient evidence to implement effective tobacco dependence treatment programs and policies. We review key findings of great relevance to treating tobacco dependence: clinical, health system, and community interventions can each independently foster tobacco cessation. A transdisciplinary approach that incorporates all of these components holds the greatest promise for reducing population-based rates of tobacco use. If these interventions are implemented broadly, a larger proportion of the 46 million US adult smokers will try to quit. Among those who do try, the likelihood of successful cessation will increase substantially.