World No Tobacco Day: 5 ways to give up smoking

Anytime is a good time to quit smoking, but if you're looking for extra motivation, why not resolve to give up the bad habit on May 31, which the WHO has declared as World No Tobacco Day.

And going cold turkey isn't the only option. Here are five methods to keep in mind for those hoping to become ex-smokers this year:

Read: Why passive smoking is worse than smoking

1 Nicotine patches, applied to the skin, provide a continuous source of the drug and are available in different doses, so smokers can dial back their intake progressively. There is also the option of nicotine gum or lozenges based on the same principle. These may be consumed several times per day, but only over a period of less than six months.

2Acupuncture, the traditional Chinese practice, can help to decrease cigarette cravings through the insertion of needles into specific points on the body.

3 Herbal cigarettes, which do not contain nicotine but do contain tar, allow smokers to go through the motions of smoking while their body goes through withdrawal from nicotine.

4 Hypnosis speaks to the smoker on a subconscious level in an attempt to strengthen his or her resolve to quit and possibly even decrease the desire to smoke.

5

E-cigarettes, which replicate the sensations of regular smoking, are an increasingly popular option for those trying to quit. The corresponding e-liquid is available in a variety of flavors and nicotine levels.

It is worth noting that at the current rate of tobacco consumption, the drug is expected to kill 8 million people per year through 2030.

The goal of World No Tobacco Day is to draw attention to tobacco-related health risks and to propose effective policies for decreasing usage.

This year, the OMS and its partners aim to convince governments to increase taxes on tobacco products by increments that will effectively reduce tobacco consumption.