Policy

Last updated: February 2008

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Suggested citation style: Treatobacco.net. Safety section, Key finding on NRT and cardiovascular disease, http://www.treatobacco.net/safety/key_findings.html, Accessed 28.02.08.Introduction

Introduction

The purpose of this policy section is to provide information on policies concerning the treatment of tobacco dependence and to highlight important policy documents. This is a review of the main policy options for the treatment of tobacco dependence and of policies in place. It is based on the evidence presented largely from other sources and hence strength of evidence statements are not given here. Sources of evidence supporting this summary appear in the next level of this section.

Terminology

For the sake of brevity, the term smoking, where used, should be taken to include all tobacco use.

A range of tobacco control strategies can encourage smokers to make attempts to quit. These include taxation, smoke-free policies, advertising bans, mass media and media advocacy campaigns, labeling policies and consumer education. These strategies must therefore be included when considering policies that impact on cessation.

The term smoking cessation includes all tobacco cessation, whether it occurs as a result of broader tobacco control measures or individual support of dependent smokers through treatment. Tobacco dependence treatment is the narrower activity of helping and supporting tobacco users overcome their dependence on nicotine. The definition of tobacco dependence treatment below, which includes a definition of smoking cessation specialist, is based on the World Health Organization's European guidelines (Raw et al, 2002):

"Tobacco dependence treatment includes (singly or in combination) behavioral and pharmacological interventions, such as brief advice and counseling, intensive support, and administration of pharmaceuticals, that contribute to reducing or overcoming tobacco dependence in individuals and in the population as a whole. A smoking cessation specialist is someone trained and paid to deliver skilled support to smokers who need help in stopping, over and above brief opportunistic advice. They need not be medically trained but should not be offering this support unpaid and squeezed into their normal work, as the evidence suggests that this is not effective".

Some of the strategies outlined in the second paragraph above may have a synergistic effect with tobacco dependence treatment policies, so that when implemented together they have a greater impact on successful quitting than if implemented alone. This is discussed further under Key Finding 3 below.

Article 14 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) concerns tobacco dependence treatment and is described in detail under the first key finding.

Ref: Raw M, Anderson P, Dubois G, Hasler J, et al. WHO evidence based recommendations on the treatment of tobacco dependence. Tobacco Control 2002; 11: 44-46.