On call: What stop smoking aid works best?

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Q. Do any of the smoking cessation aids, like gum or patches, work better than the others?

A. No single stop-smoking tool is proven to be the best, but they all work better than just going "cold turkey." It also helps to combine them. For example, a form of counseling called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—combined with nicotine-replacement patches or prescription drugs—has helped many people to quit. Meditation may help reduce stress from nicotine cravings.

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