SCRAP launched against smoking
MANILA, Philippines - The Medical City (TMC) has launched a program to help smokers quit the smoking habit for good.
Called SCRAP or Smoking Cessation and Relapse Assistance and Prevention, the program centers on education and motivation.
TMC Department of Medicine chairperson Dr. Liza Garcia explained that most smokers have a hard time kicking the habit because they have become addicted to nicotine.
She explained that even if smokers understand and accept the risks associated with smoking, they need additional motivation to stop smoking to counter the addiction and compulsion to smoke. Improved physical fitness and increase in savings, for example, are two good motivators.
Under SCRAP, patients will undergo individualized assessment, motivational patient education and counseling, supplementary self-help materials, behavioral modification and cognitive therapy, assisted pharmacologic treatment, psycho-social support group, relaxation and stress-management techniques, periodic monitoring, relapse prevention techniques, and smoking reduction strategies.
SCRAP is composed of five weekly visits. The first is the Assessment visit and the second is the Preparatory visit. The third visit is devoted to intervention and treatment. The fourth visit is for action planning and the fifth visit is for relapse prevention where the patient will be assessed for relapse risk
“Oftentimes, addiction persists despite a desire to quit or even repeated attempts to quit. This is mainly because of nicotine withdrawal syndrome bringing about the impairment in a person’s ability to function,” Dr. Garcia said.
The symptoms of nicotine withdrawal syndrome include the psychological symptoms of dysphoric or depressed mood, anxiety, irritability, frustration, or anger and restlessness or impatience. Physical symptoms may include insomnia, increased appetite or weight gain and difficulty concentrating.
Dr. Garcia said it is indeed possible for a smoker to quit smoking for good but the process should be gradual or step by step. One can contemplate on quitting, find out how, decide to quit, prepare to quit, quit for a day and then eventually quit for good.
