Are You One of the 60+ Million People in the U.S. Still Lighting Up?

Why is this, when the cost (in both financial and health terms) of smoking is so great? One word. ADDICTION.

Not to mention, tobacco companies are targeting anyone that they can. With clever marketing ploys, smokeless tobacco, flavored cigarettes in pretty cartons, and even social networking on popular sites such as Facebook and MySpace – these companies seem to do anything they can to get people to light up.

And, despite increases in cigarette prices and the amount of taxes that smokers pay for their habit, the tobacco companies are still getting their money. In 2009, Ohio cigarette prices went up by a dollar a pack on average, and people are still buying. In some states like New York, Connecticut, and California, cigarettes can cost more than $6 per pack, going up as high as $8.50 a pack or more for name brands. Even with the super high costs of cigarettes, it seems that no matter how much prices go up, smokers are going to keep on buying.

Smoking is a powerful addiction due to the nicotine found in cigarettes. The good news is that the study done showed that about 13.4 million of the adult smokers who wanted to quit in 2007 actually did stop for at least one day or more. Of those adults who had smoked more than 100 cigarettes during their life (equal to half of a carton), just over 52% of them had stopped smoking by the time that the interviews took place. Because of the risk of lung disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Emphysema, and premature death – all of which are associated with smoking and being around secondhand smoke – the Center of Disease Control (CDC) and federal and state governments are trying to do what they can to reach out to smokers and get them to kick the habit.  In June of 2009, President Obama signed into law the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, also known as the FSPTCA, which will grant the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permission to control and regulate all tobacco products.

What does this mean? Regulations may include:

• Tobacco manufacturers and importers are to submit product information to the FDA, starting January 2010.

• The FDA to reissue a 1996 regulation aimed at reducing tobacco use among minors by April 2010.

• Tobacco manufacturers will no longer be able to use the terms “light,” “low” or “mild” without a special order from the FDA, starting in July 2010. The FDA also plans to revise warning labels on other tobacco products, such as smokeless tobacco.

• The FDA will strengthen the warning labels on cigarette packs, by October 2012.

• Certain cigarettes, such as Djarum and Dream cigarettes will be banned, along with flavored cigarillos, as of September 22.

Quitting the Habit

Those who are looking to quit smoking, and who have not succeeded the “cold turkey” way, often seek medical attention for prescriptions to help. There are many stop smoking aids that are used, and some doctors will even prescribe anti-depressants to patients who want to quit smoking. For people who don’t have medical insurance or who just don’t want to deal with the expense of going to the doctor, using online doctor services can be a solution to get the medications or alternative suggestions that they need to help them stop smoking without having to pay for an actual doctor visit.

Online medical consultations are not free, but they are often more affordable and much less hassle for people who want a different way to get the help that they need. While many people try to quit on their own or seek out the over-the-counter treatments such as gums, patches, and the lozenges that are available, some people just need a little extra push. By using an online doctor service or visiting a family doctor, many more Americans can get the help that they need to quit smoking for good. A lot of people don’t want to face the reality of their situation, and sometimes offering an alternative to seeing their family doctor can help them to feel more comfortable in seeking medications to help them stop smoking. Online doctor prescriptions, such as Chantix, Nicoderm CQ, Nicorette and Zyban, are available for people with many different needs, including those people who need a little extra help when it comes to quitting smoking.

For more information on smoking cessation and online medical consultation services, contact KoolDocs.com. Visit http://www.kooldocs.com or call 1-800-378-0086 today.

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