Benefits of Smoking Cessation and the Role of Health Professionals

With tobacco involved in the deaths of more than eight million people globally, every year (WHO 2019), health professionals play an essential role in supporting people with cessation.

In Australia, tobacco smoking is a major contributor to preventable illness and death. In fact, it is estimated to contribute to the deaths of almost 19,000 Australians every year (ABS 2019).

Smoking cessation, the process of quitting smoking, is imperative to the health of every individual who smokes. Regardless of age or smoking-related conditions that have already developed, there are immediate and long-term health benefits to be gained by quitting (Cancer Council 2019).

Cessation is a difficult process due to the addictive property of nicotine in cigarettes. Dependence is a chronic condition and those who smoke will experience withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to abstain.

It’s important for anyone embarking on the cessation journey to remember that only a minority of initial cessation attempts are successful, with the average 40-year-old who smokes having made about 20 attempts on average (RACGP 2019). Therefore, a failed first attempt is not necessarily the end, but indeed an important first step on the road to recovery.

The most effective way to attempt cessation is through a combination of behavioural support and medication (RACGP 2019.).