Nicotine replacement therapy
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
"Evidence-based" NRT medications should be included in "benefits provided to all federal beneficiaries and in all federally funded healthcare programs by fiscal 2005," Michael Fiore, MD, University of Wisconsin Medical School, et al. maintain in the February American Journal of Public Health. The National Action Plan for Tobacco Cessation comprises 10 recommendations to prevent "3 million premature deaths and [help] 5 mil. smokers quit." Study authors also recommend implementation of a federally funded National Tobacco Quitline to provide support for smokers who want to quit. Separately, HHS announced plans to establish and expand state quitlines in a 1Feb. 3 release. NRT marketer GlaxoSmithKline lauds the plan and "urges those in government...to implement these vital recommendations"...