It remains difficult for traditional smokers “to reach the goal of quitting: as many as 68% have never tried to stop smoking, only 31.4% say they have tried” and just “12.2% intend to to quit smoking within 6 months. As many as 15.5% say they absolutely don’t want to stop.” This is the snapshot taken from the 36th Eurispes Italian Report, published today, in the sheet dedicated to Anti-Smoking Centers and Lilt, the Italian League for the fight against cancer, the main structures in the area that carry out the fight against smoking providing important tools to support smoking cessation.
On the role of the State, the report highlights that “if it were scientifically proven that there are combustion-free products that are less harmful than traditional ones, 82% of vapers” believe that “citizens should be allowed to be informed. Furthermore, according to 62.7%, the State should consider the use of electronic cigarettes among smokers who, otherwise, would continue to smoke in any case”. Furthermore, for “91.9% of users of heated tobacco, the State”, if the existence of combustion-free products that are less harmful than traditional ones were scientifically proven, “would have the duty to promote information campaigns and it is the percentage of those who would like a reduction in taxation on these products is equally high (90.1%)”.
71.6% of those interviewed maintain that “it would also be right to encourage these products by subjecting them to fewer bans and limitations than traditional ones and, only a minority, would prefer a neutral attitude through the application of the same rules in force for traditional products (39 ,4%)”. And again, according to the report, “85% of consumers of heated tobacco products” maintain that smokers, who would continue to smoke, should be “encouraged by the State and health institutions to consider switching to heated tobacco products ( 45.9% ‘probably yes’ and 39.1% absolutely yes’). In addition, “only 1.5% did not use any products before using such products and 79.5% say they abandoned traditional cigarettes after switching to smokeless products.”
There are currently 244 anti-smoking centers active in our country; next to them there is Lilt, divided into 106 provincial associations and around 400 clinics. Eurispes – we read in the document – wanted to provide in a dedicated study an updated snapshot of what is the concrete reality of the offer of these structures, the majority of which (64% of the total) have a number of patients who do not exceeds 50 patients.
Almost all anti-smoking centers and LILTs that responded to the questionnaire adopt pharmacological therapies to combat addiction. Often, long-term contact with the patient is not expected, so the data – the authors point out – is not detectable once the process at the facility has been completed. In some cases, in fact, there is a lack of follow-up that accompanies the smoker even after the initial meetings and, consequently, the patient interrupts therapy or starts smoking again.
“Only 2 structures speak of effective treatments between 80% and 100% of patients – concludes the sheet – As regards the opinion of the managers of the structures regarding the potential of alternative products in reducing the risk compared to traditional products of the tobacco, less than half are against it, while the majority is divided between those who are in favor, those who are in favor but, in practice, do not recommend the use of such products and, finally, those who are supporters of possibilities”.
#Eurispes #smokers #quit
