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Pack Mentality: Why Is It So Hard to Quit Smoking?

A look at the science behind addiction to cigarettes and nicotine cravings.

Column Five
By Column FiveMar 12, 2011
Column Five
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With more than 5 million people dying each year from its effects, tobacco smoking is one of the leading causes of death around the world. Even with the Surgeon General's warnings, the number of smokers remains high, and according to the FDA, 50 percent of the people who recover from lung cancer surgery start smoking again afterwards. Here, we explore exactly what causes the difference between one puff and a habitual post-dessert drag.

A collaboration between GOOD and Column Five Media

Sources: American Hearth Association, National Health Interview Survey, National Center for Health Statistics, World Health Organization, University of Ohio

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