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Alternative Therapies

Quitting smoking, vaping, dipping or chewing can feel like a mostly uphill hike. When it gets frustrating, it may be easy to look for a quick fix. But, there's no one magic tool to have in your backpack to make this hike a breeze. Quitting is about beating the physical, social, and habit parts of nicotine addiction. New methods you hear about might work for some people some of the time. But, the combo of medication and a program like EX works for more people more of the time.

So, feel free to explore a different path or try new ways to quit. Just know they may not get you where you want to go. And remember, the EX team and EX Community are always here for you. Read more about some alternative quit methods below.

  • Cold Turkey

    "Cold turkey" means quitting all at once. No medication, no cutting back. Just stopping all of a sudden, on your own. Lots of people go this route. But, lots of studies show that most are not successful. 97% of people who quit cold turkey go back to using tobacco within 6 months.

  • Electronic Cigarettes (e-cigarettes)

    More information on e-cigarettes

    If you’ve tried medication (or can’t use one) and a program like EX and they haven’t worked, an e-cigarette may help you quit smoking. The most important thing is to totally quit smoking. Using both e-cigarettes and regular cigarettes has no health benefit.

    Here’s what you need to know. E-cigarettes can feel like smoking but without any smoke. Since they don't burn tobacco, they’re less harmful than regular cigarettes. But the chemicals in them are not harmless. It's true they have fewer cancer-causing chemicals than regular cigarettes. But no one really knows what’s in them because of a lack of quality control standards. It’s also not clear whether they work for quitting. Some studies say they can help, but others don’t. As a result, they haven't been approved by the FDA as a quit smoking aid. Also, many people end up feeling much more addicted to e-cigarettes than they were to smoking. Get information on quitting e-cigarettes here.

  • Quitting Tobacco Using Hypnosis

    Hypnosis is a sleep-like state when people are more open to suggestion. The commands they hear when they are under hypnosis are supposed to change their behavior when they wake up. It’s fun to watch on TV. But scientific studies have shown it doesn't help for quitting smoking. Nicotine changes the way your brain works and may be too powerful for hypnosis. It’s best to use the quit methods that science has shown really work. Learn more about nicotine and your brain here.

  • Laser Therapy and Acupuncture to Quit

    Some people say that laser therapy and acupuncture can help for quitting. The idea is that they help your body make chemicals called endorphins, which decrease nicotine cravings. But, there's no science that backs this up. Will laser therapy or acupuncture hurt you? No. But they probably won't help you quit either. And they cost money.

Quit Medications

Have you picked a quit medication? Learn why it can double your chances of quitting. Then, decide which medication(s) to try. Still have questions? Check out Frequently Asked Questions About Using Medication to Help Quit.

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