STAT

Opinion: Quitting smoking is hard. Mindfulness hacks the habit loop, offering a new approach

Smoking hijacks the brain's reward-based learning system. Each time a smoker smokes, it reinforces a brain pathway that says, "This is great, do it again." Mindfulness techniques can break the…
Source: PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images

Smoking kills.

The science behind that stone-cold statement has been indisputable for decades. Yet smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States and around the world.

Given all that we know about smoking, why do people have so much trouble quitting? As an addiction psychiatrist and neuroscientist, it’s a question I frequently get from my patients and acquaintances. The two-part answer I give them is simple: Quitting is hard, and most people go

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from STAT

STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About CVS And Humira Biosimilars, Schumer’s Broken Insulin Promise, And More
New prescriptions for biosimilar versions of Humira, one of the best-selling drugs in the U.S., surged to 36% from just 5% during the first week of April.
STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About AstraZeneca CEO Pay, Alternatives To WuXi And More
And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans.…
STAT1 min readAmerican Government
Opinion: As A Rule, Rape Exceptions For Abortion Don’t Work
Abortion opponents often say they want to support survivors of rape. But abortion bans do the opposite, and no fake "rape exception" is going to change that.

Related Books & Audiobooks