Doctors
Treatment from Physicians Can Double Quit Rates
Tobacco use kills nearly half a million Americans every year. It’s the leading cause of preventable disease and death.
“We need to treat smoking as an illness, like hypertension,” says Dr. Tom Jackson. He knows research shows 80 percent of smokers want to quit, 50 percent try each year but only a small fraction succeed.
Tobacco dependence is a chronic disease requiring intervention and treatment. Research shows smokers’ chances of quitting can double when a physician offers intervention and support.
The business case for implementing a comprehensive system to treat tobacco dependence is compelling.
U.S. Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guideline: Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence
Dr. Jessica Burris has used the Tobacco Treatment Roadmap to help her system establish a sustainable and efficient means of screening its patients for tobacco use and referring patients who smoke to evidence-based treatment.