[Diagnosis and therapy of nicotine dependence]

The 1988 Report of the US-Surgeon General states very clearly, that the use of tobacco products is not a matter of free choice, but is the result of an addiction as scientifically valid as the addiction to heroin and other narcotics. Using the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) to assess nicotine dependence in a population 6,000 randomly selected Austrians were interviewed. 42% of men and 27% of women were found to be smokers. 3 groups of smokers differing in dependence can be described: 36.5% are nicotine addicted; 30.2% must be psychosocial dependent because they show nearly no sign of nicotine dependence; and there is a group between. The scientific literature provides informations on many methods and techniques for a smoking cessation, both pharmacological approaches have been tried to treat nicotine dependence in man. According to scientific standards and many controlled studies, nicotine has been the only drug found to be effective in treating nicotine dependence. Many techniques, ranging from self help to sophisticated combined therapeutic approaches including pharmacological interventions, are now available to deal with the nicotine addiction.