Prevention Specialists, Ltd.

Smoking Cessation

Thought Leadership

This section contains the views and methods practiced by Dr. Weisberg, who is renowned for his comprehensive approach to disease prevention. He has lectured widely on preventive medicine as well as PCCP topics in the primary care setting. This information is posted to help you gain a better understanding of these conditions. As always, please consult with your physician to clarify or initiate any ideas discussed.

About 500,000 people in the U.S. will die in the next year as a direct consequence of smoking-related diseases. Nicotine has been classified by the Surgeon General as a highly addictive drug similar to heroin and cocaine. Every cigarette has over 4,000 chemicals, many of which are causes of diseases such as heart disease, lung disease and cancer! Smoking is not merely a bad habit; it can be a fatal addiction.

At PSL, we “medicalize” smoking cessation and treat it as an addiction. We view smoking cessation as a life-saving endeavor, and we treat it aggressively. In the initial weeks of treatment, we start our patients on a prescription medication that is designed to simulate the release of the same neurochemicals as nicotine, therefore reducing the urge to smoke. Some medications also elevate mood, thus helping to curb the negative mood swings typical of nicotine withdrawal experienced in other methods. In addition, many patients note decreases appetite which can lead to clinically significant weight loss, even while quitting smoking.

Smoking cessation does not require that a patient go “cold turkey.” PSL’s medically supervised program also encompasses other forms of nicotine replacement therapy, including gum, patch and inhalers. In hard-to-treat cases of nicotine addiction, we will also use a blood pressure medicine that helps to alleviate painful withdrawal symptoms.

Even patients who have failed at previous attempts have been successful at PSL. That’s because we use unique combinations of medications and behavioral techniques in order to help individuals successfully overcome their nicotine addiction. Our philosophy is that it is far better to treat people using medications than to have them continue to smoke.

To schedule a free informational consultation with Dr. Weisberg, email us at appointments@PreventionSpecialists.com.

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