SMOKING AND NICOTINE REPLACEMENT TREATMENT ISSUES SPECIFIC TO WOMEN

The grim history of smoking in men is doomed to be repeated in women u nless new ideas for attracting women to smoking cessation treatment an d helping them to maintain abstinence can be found, Although dramatic advances still elude us, nicotine replacement products represent the m ost encouraging therapeutic development to date, The challenge now is to determine whether efficacy can be still further enhanced by more sp ecialized approaches based on a better understanding of individual dif ferences, The purpose of this paper is to examine gender differences i n smoking that may lead to differential treatment process and outcome, and to suggest ways in which nicotine replacement products might be i ncorporated in treatment strategies adapted to the special needs of wo men smokers, Topics explored include withdrawal symptomatology, abilit y to achieve and maintain abstinence, weight concerns, menstrual cycle effects, and comorbid conditions more prevalent in women (e.g., depre ssion, anxiety, and binge eating), Areas particularly in need of furth er research are discussed.