Helping people to stop smoking: randomised comparison of groups being treated with acupuncture and nicotine gum with control group.

Groups that were treated with acupuncture and nicotine gum had a higher rate ofsmoking cessation in the first month after treatment than a control group, but the tendency to relapse was not reduced. EfEcacy oftreatment was studied in 651 volunteer participants (out of 35,000 smokers contacted) over a l2-month p€riod. Of224 treated with acupuncture, 43 had quit smokfurg after I month (p-0.001) and 17 were er-smokers at 13 months (p:0.02). Of 205 treated witb nicotine gum, 46 had quit smoking after I month G:0.00001) and 24 were ex'smokers at 13 months (p:0.001). Among 222 ennttols, 18 quit smoking after I month and 6 were ex-smokers at 13 months. Adults smoking at least 5 cigarettes,/day were eligible for participation' No signi8cant dilference was found between the three groups for sex, age, age at fint cigarette, daily consumptiorr, previous sttempts to stop smoking, and frequency of inhalation. Treat ment (acupuncture, nicotine gum' or control) was allocated by balanced randomization, and each group received three l'hour s€ssions of group therapy during the first month' In the acupuncture group, needles were placed bilaterally for 30 minutes at the "shuai gu" and "qiuhou" points. For those using nicotine gum, 105 pieces of 2 mg nicotine gnm were provided. Control group members were given a cigarette case with a lock controlled by a time switch that could be regulated at will.