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MYTHS ABOUT QUITTING SMOKING & NRT

On this page
  • Myth 1: Nicotine Replacement Therapy Is as Harmful as Smoking
  • Myth 2: Nicotine Replacement Therapy Products Are as Addictive as Smoking
  • Myth 3: Nicotine Replacement Therapy Does Not Work
  • Myth 4: Nicotine Replacement Therapy Is Expensive

Many believe that quitting cold turkey is the best way to quit, or that nicotine replacement therapy is as harmful and addicting as smoking. We want to give you the real facts about quitting smoking and the truth about nicotine replacement therapy because quitting is hard enough and having the right information can help you.

Myth 1: Nicotine Replacement Therapy Is as Harmful as Smoking

Cigarettes are a well-known cause of cancer, heart disease, and many other diseases. It is the toxins in cigarette smoke that cause most of these adverse effects, not the nicotine.

Myth 2: Nicotine Replacement Therapy Products Are as Addictive as Smoking

Using NRT is not trading one nicotine addiction for another because the likelihood of long-term dependence on NRT is low. On top of this, the nicotine present in NRT products reaches the brain much more slowly than when smoking a cigarette, making NRT considerably less addictive.

Myth 3: Nicotine Replacement Therapy Does Not Work

It has been shown that NRT can double a smoker’s chance of quitting for good*. In fact, often, the reason why people fail to quit with NRT is because they either don’t use enough of it or don’t use it properly. Get information on how to use NICORETTE® in our product pages.

*compared to quitting with willpower alone

Myth 4: Nicotine Replacement Therapy Is Expensive

Some believe that NRT is too expensive, but when you compare it to the cost of smoking, it might surprise you! If you use up to 10 NICORETTE® gums a day, it will cost you £1.33 per day*, whereas an average pack of 20 cigarettes costs £11.99.

*based on a 210 pack of NICORETTE® 2mg gum costing £27.99 (as of April 2022), suitable for smokers of 20 or less cigarettes per day. Maximum 15 pieces of gum per day.

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Nicotine is an addictive substance, which makes quitting smoking (and vaping) so difficult. Nicorette also contains nicotine but is designed specifically to fight craving as you reduce to quit tobacco/nicotine-vaping. We believe that being free of both tobacco and nicotine is the best quitting outcome, so we do not encourage use of our products unless it is within the context of quitting (including reducing prior to quitting). If you have a concern or an issue with ongoing use of Nicorette, please contact Nicorette Customer Services or speak directly to your GP/HCP for further guidance.
UK-NIC-2026-301499
Site last reviewed: June 11th 2026
Due for review: June 2028

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Nicorette 2mg Gum, Nicorette 4mg Gum, Nicorette Freshmint 2mg Gum, Nicorette Freshmint 4mg Gum, Nicorette Fruitfusion 2mg Gum, Nicorette Fruitfusion 4mg Gum, Nicorette Icy White 2mg Gum, Nicorette Icy White 4mg Gum, Nicorette Cools 2mg Lozenge, Nicorette Cools 4mg Lozenge, Nicorette Fruit 4mg Lozenge, Nicorette Fruit 4mg Lozenge, Nicorette Invisi 10mg Patch, Nicorette Invisi 15mg Patch, Nicorette Invisi 25mg Patch, Nicorette Microtab 2mg sublingual tablet, Nicorette Nasal Spray, Nicorette QuickMist mouthspray, Nicorette QuickMist Spearmint Mouthspray, Nicorette QuickMist Cool Berry mouthspray, Nicorette QuickMist SmartTrack mouthspray, Nicorette QuickMist Cool Berry SmartTrack Mouthspray, Nicorette Inhalator, contain nicotine. Stop Smoking Aids. Stop nicotine-vaping aids. Requires willpower. Always read the label. (12+ years)

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