Reaffirming what has been cited in earlier surveys and research, Gallup recently completely a survey that indicated most smokers in the U.S. would like to quit, with 85% saying they have tried to quit smoking.

There were a few interesting items in their survey results:

1)      The percentage of those wanting to quit, and the percentage that do not want to quit, have stayed relatively stable over the last 12 years.  It hovers up and down but has averaged 74%.

2)      The percentage who would like to quit has actually dropped in the last 6 years (74% compared to 80% from 2001 – 2004)

3)      45% of those surveyed had tried to quit at least 3 times.

4)      48% of those that have been successful did so by quitting cold turkey

Our conclusion:  There is still plenty of need for alternatives that can help and satisfy smokers.  We believe the percentage that are successful will increase when the choice and the challenge of breaking an addiction is made easier.