1)Thenicotinegumandpatchesareoftenusedbymillionsofsmokerstohelpkicktheirhabit
Buttheyhavenolastingbenefitandmaybackfireinsomecases,accordingtothemostrigorouslong-termstudytodateofso-callednicotinereplacementtherapy
Thestudy,publishedMondayinthejournalTobaccoControl,includednearly800peopletryingtoquitsmokingoveraperiodofseveralyears,andislikelytointensifyalong-runningdebateaboutthevalueofnicotinealternatives
Themarketfornicotinereplacementproductshastakenoffinrecentyears,risingtomorethan$800millionannuallyfrom$129millionin1991
Theproductswereapprovedforover-the-countersalein1997,andmanystateMedicaidprogramscoveratatleastoneofthem
Inmedicalstudies,theproductshaveprovedeffective,makingiteasierforpeopletoquit,atleastintheshortterm
Thoseearlier,moreencouragingfindingswerethebasisforfederalguide