Family physicians are in an ideal position to help patients who smoke. Our most effective strategy is ourselves, offering clear information and advice to stop smoking, combined with a follow up plan. Although controlled research is lacking for most intervention strategies, a number of them do work at least for the short-term. Combined with the physician's ongoing support and reinforcement, patients may choose from 'cold turkey', hypnotherapy, nicotine-containing gum, acupuncture, group programs or behavioral methods such as rapid smoking. The author's experience with some of these interventions is included.
