New Survey Shows Many Successful Quit Smoking Attempts
Made Without Advance Planning

Survey found spontaneous quit attempts can be successful

Pittsburgh, Sept. 24, 2007 / PRNewswire / – For some smokers, carefully planning a quit attempt may not be the path to becoming smoke-free. While there are benefits to preparing yourself for a quit attempt, a new national survey conducted by Nicorette Cinnamon Surge shows that for some, successfully quitting may not require an advance plan.¹ In fact, half (49 percent) of successful quitters surveyed reported that their most recent quit attempt started without any advance planning.²

"Some behavioral science experts have long thought of spontaneity as a relatively risky trait, often leading to negative actions and outcomes," said Frank Vitale, national director, Pharmacy Partnership for Tobacco Cessation and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Consumer Healthcare spokesperson. "What is interesting about this survey is that it found that acting spontaneously can lead people to make a healthy lifestyle change they may have otherwise delayed."

Modeled after a recent study of UK smokers conducted by Robert West and Taj Sohal at University College London and published in the British Medical Journal, the U.S. survey findings show that spontaneous attempts can be successful and are occurring frequently.³

"These new survey results, show a pattern similar to what our study found pertaining to the way smokers seem very able to translate a decision to quit immediately in to action," said Robert West, Professor of Health Psychology and Director of Tobacco Studies at the Cancer Research UK Health Behavior Unit. "Tensions build within a smoker during certain events, such as a recent health concern, or a new increase in the cost of cigarettes. Eventually, even a small trigger can lead to a sudden and dramatic change in perception, ultimately causing the individual to feel a need to stop smoking immediately."⁴

While the survey found that some smokers find a spontaneous quit can be effective⁵, experts agree that finding an approach that is right for the individual, including the use of proven smoking cessation methods is the best plan for long-term success.

"Any attempt to quit smoking is a positive step in the right direction; the right method depends on each smokers individual needs," said Frank Vitale, national director, Pharmacy Partnership for Tobacco Cessation and GSK spokesperson. "These survey findings don't necessarily imply that planning quit attempts would be counterproductive or that smokers should quit without any assistance. Even spontaneous quitters can improve their chances significantly by developing a plan to deal with tough situations and cravings and by taking advantage of proven stop smoking tools such as Nicorette Cinnamon Surge gum."

Nicotine replacement therapy such as new Nicorette Cinnamon Surge is readily available over the counter without a doctor's prescription at more than 35,000 retail outlets, and can help reduce withdrawal symptoms commonly associated with quitting smoking⁶. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is now offering smokers who want to quit a free 20 piece starter pack of new Nicorette Cinnamon Surge, while supplies last. Interested consumers can dial 1-800-Nicorette or visit www.Nicorette.com to request their starter pack and also access free smoking cessation counseling available as part of the offer.

"Recognizing that every smoker is different, we developed new Nicorette Cinnamon Surge for smokers that prefer the bold taste of cinnamon." said Bill Slivka, Vice President, GlaxoSmithKline Smoking Control. "Now with new Nicorette Cinnamon Surge, and our free starter pack offer, these smokers can act on their spontaneity by giving quitting a try."

About Nicorette

Nicorette is a stop-smoking aid which provides fast, safe, controlled doses of nicotine to ease withdrawal from cigarettes. Convenient to carry and use, Nicorette allows smokers to control how much nicotine they use, and gives them the added flexibility of chewing an additional piece within the hour to treat strong or frequent cravings. Nicorette is sugar-free and available in strengths of 2mg (for smokers of less than 25 cigarettes each day) and 4mg (for smokers of 25 or more cigarettes each day) and also is available in exciting flavors such as Fresh Mint, Fruit Chill and new Cinnamon Surge.

About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world's largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the products Nicorette, NicoDerm CQ, Commit, Abreva, Aquafresh, Sensodyne, and Tums, trademarks owned by and/or licensed to GlaxoSmithKline Group of Companies.

About GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline is one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare companies. GlaxoSmithKline is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

A survey of 1,700 respondents (900 adults age 18 and over who currently smoke cigarettes every day and 800 adults, age 18 and over, who previously smoked every day but quit between one month and ten years ago) in the U.S. was fielded in July 2007 by Richard Day Research through an online panel, screening for adults age 18 and over. The data was weighted to adjust for the age, ethnicity and gender using estimates from the 2006 National Health Interview Survey.

¹Survey of adult smokers and ex-smokers conducted by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare in July 2007.
²Survey of adult smokers and ex-smokers conducted by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare in July 2007.
³Survey of adult smokers and ex-smokers conducted by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare in July 2007.
⁴West, Robert (2006) "Catastrophic" pathways to smoking cessation: findings from a national survey; British Medical Journal, 332; 458-460
⁵Survey of adult smokers and ex-smokers conducted by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare in July 2007.
⁶http://www.nicorette.com/Nicorette.aspx