A new study suggests that the nicotine patch and gum may not be as effective as some smokers might hope.
Researchers at Harvard and the University of Massachusetts followed 787 adult smokers who had recently quit smoking. They found that nearly one-third of smokers resumed the habit.
The relapse rate was the same regardless of whether participants used nicotine therapies for more than six weeks or had professional counseling.
There was also no difference in the therapy's effectiveness whether the participants were heavy or light smokers.
The study was published in the online edition of Tobacco Control.
