A study presented recently in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report linked higher failure rates faced by young smokers, when they try to quit, to the use of unassisted and non-recommended smoking cessation methods. Researchers found that although female smokers were more likely than males to seek help from health professionals, the men were more likely to try exercise as a quit strategy and to switch to chewing tobacco, snuff, or other tobacco products.

The research was based on telephone interview surveys of 1,827 young smokers, between the ages of 16 and 24 years. It found that out of the six recommended quitting methods only one was tried by at least 20 percent of the respondents. While six of the 11 unassisted methods that are not recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service were each used by at least 36 percent of respondents.

Moreover, females (24 percent) were more likely than males (15.6 percent) to seek help from health professionals but less likely to have tried nicotine gum (14.4 percent versus 20.3 percent).

More than half of the female respondents said that they tied to quit smoking with the help of a friend as compared to 46 percent males.

On the other hand, males (55.7 percent) were more likely than females (46 percent) to exercise more as a strategy to quit and to switch to chewing tobacco, snuff, or other tobacco products (18 percent versus 1.6 percent).

The six recommended quitting methods included - talk to a health professional, use nicotine-replacement products, use bupropion (eg, Zyban), talk with a counselor, attend a program or class, and call a helpline.

For smokers aged 18 years of age or younger, the researchers recommend "effective behavioral counseling approaches" since the use of nicotine-replacement products has not been approved for them by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.