BMJ 2002;324:1346-1347 ( 8 June )

Editorials

The power of the press in smokers' attempts to quit

Doctors propose, the press disposes

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

In April 2002, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) released guidance on cost effective pharmacological treatment of tobacco addiction.1 This endorsement allows every health authority in England and Wales to provide nicotine replacement or bupropion for patients who are dependent on tobacco and request treatment. Whether smokers will ask for and receive these drugs depends on many factors. Two scenarios, from the United Kingdom and the United States, illustrate the struggle between the press and medical experts to investigate and report concerns about the safety of new drugs for smoking cessation and the effect this struggle has on reported attempts to quit smoking.

The NHS advanced the treatment of the tobacco dependence movement with three initiatives: a white paper that established a priority for the treatment of tobacco dependence in 1998,2 a national plan for expanded smoking cessation services launched in 1999-2000, and the approval of bupropion in 2000 and nicotine replacement . . . [Full text of this article]
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This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Grassi, M. C., Enea, D., Ferketich, A. K., Lu, B., Nencini, P. (2009). A smoking ban in public places increases the efficacy of bupropion and counseling on cessation outcomes at 1 year. Nicotine Tob Res 11: 1114-1121 [Abstract] [Full text]  
  • West, R, DiMarino, M E, Gitchell, J, McNeill, A (2005). Impact of UK policy initiatives on use of medicines to aid smoking cessation. Tobacco Control 14: 166-171 [Abstract] [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Responding to the media
Paul Stillman
bmj.com, 7 Jun 2002 [Full text]
The Power of the press
Charles R M Broomhead, et al.
bmj.com, 7 Jun 2002 [Full text]
The Excessive Power of the Press
Bernard C Boyd
bmj.com, 9 Jun 2002 [Full text]
Is smoking really an addiction?
Anne Savage
bmj.com, 13 Jun 2002 [Full text]
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