Quit Smoking Weapons of Mass Distraction

Smokers are told they can't quit without help, but 75% of smokers quit without drugs or professional help. Simon Chapman AO is one of Australia's foremost experts on strategies to minimize harm from tobacco. He reviews the early history of quitting smoking and the rise of assisted quitting and provides actionable policy solutions to help people quit smoking.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 380 pages
Publication date: 01 July 2022
Publisher: Sydney University Press

For decades, there has been a significant shift in the smoking landscape, with a notable increase in ex-smokers compared to current smokers. According to estimates, approximately 75% of smokers successfully quit without the use of drugs or professional assistance. However, the smoking cessation industry, comprising multibillion-dollar sectors such as pharmaceuticals, e-cigarettes, and health professionals, actively works to undermine the concept of unassisted cessation and promote their products and services as essential for successful quitting. This marketing strategy employs various tactics, including denigrating unassisted cessation and presenting their products and services as "weapons of mass distraction." This contributes to the medicalization of a process that, prior to the availability of these products, had a natural history where drugs and expertise were absent. Despite this, millions of people around the world continue to quit smoking successfully, relying on their own determination and support systems.

Simon Chapman, an esteemed expert in tobacco harm reduction in Australia, has authored a comprehensive book titled "Quit Smoking: Weapons of Mass Distraction." In this book, Chapman delves into the early history of quitting smoking and the rise of assisted quitting. He sheds light on the forces that have attempted to undermine smokers' agency and prevent them from quitting on their own terms. Chapman offers actionable policy solutions to assist individuals in quitting smoking effectively. This book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding what strategies truly work to reduce smoking and what contributes to the continued profitability of the tobacco industry.

Mike Daube, an Emeritus Professor in Public Health at Curtin University, praises "Quit Smoking: Weapons of Mass Distraction" as a splendid read for anyone seeking effective ways to reduce smoking. He emphasizes that Chapman's book is indispensable for anyone who wants to help the billion-odd smokers end their addiction. Daube describes the book as a powerful and important contribution to the field of smoking cessation.

Robert N. Proctor, a Professor of the History of Science at Stanford University, also commends "Quit Smoking: Weapons of Mass Distraction" as a must-read for anyone interested in assisting smokers in ending their addiction. Proctor praises the book as a powerful and important contribution to the understanding of smoking cessation and the challenges faced by smokers.

In conclusion, "Quit Smoking: Weapons of Mass Distraction" by Simon Chapman is a comprehensive and insightful book that challenges the prevailing narrative of the smoking cessation industry. By examining the history of quitting smoking, the rise of assisted quitting, and the efforts to undermine smokers' agency, Chapman provides actionable policy solutions and insights into what truly works to reduce smoking. This book is a valuable resource for individuals, policymakers, and healthcare professionals interested in ending the tobacco epidemic and promoting healthier lifestyles.

Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781743328538