[Current therapeutic strategies in smoking cessation]

Smoking is a behaviour maintained and enhanced by a dependence mainly induced by nicotine. Despite awareness and knowledge of the associated health risks many smokers find it considerably difficult to quit. The untoward effects of nicotine withdrawal such as apparition of depressive mood, or weight gain, etc. justify the numerous unsuccessful attempts to quit smoking. Treatments with demonstrated efficacy are available and international evidence-based recommendations for cessation interventions have been established. These are: brief advice, assessing the smoking status of each patient and encouraging cessation; nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) [transdermal patch, gum, sublingual tablet or inhalator to be used at sufficiently individualised doses combining, if necessary, two or more NRT products]; bupropion, a more recent treatment: psychotropic drug, a noradrenaline and dopamine re-uptake inhibitor more recently approved for marketing; behavioural and cognitive therapies on their own or combined with pharmacotherapy. Measuring nicotine dependence using the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence may help to define the therapeutic strategy. It is obvious that therapies can only work for smokers who are motivated to stop smoking. Before reaching the decision to quit, the smoker goes through a process in the course of which the role of health professionals' advice is paramount.