November 9, 2010 - The cost of stop smoking services has increased by 30% between 2007 and 2010 but quit rates remain more or less unchanged. To account for the almost unchanged quit rates National Health Service (NHS) evaluated the effectiveness of stop smoking services.  In their cost-effectiveness evaluation NHS concluded that stop smoking services should be extended. Ex-smokers they suggest should be kept on stop smoking services for at least three months, extending current services by two months.

The current methodology behind providing services for four weeks originates from evaluations done on 4-week quitters. But, NHS argues this percentage neglects to take in to account the estimate three fourths of quitters that relapse after the four week mark. NHS’s analysis concludes that if stop smoking services in conjunction with nicotine replacement therapies were provided over a three month period 12 monthly quit rates could increase by between 10%-20%.

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