Research Finds ACE Method Helpful for Smokers to Quit

Allen Carr’s Easy way (ACE) is the method that helps people to quit smoking. Large scale trials of the ACE method found it useful as compared to other anti-smoking services of the UK. Researchers found that results showed no great difference in the rate of success between ACE service and a specialist anti-smoking service of the UK.

Center for Addictive Behaviors Research (CABR) at St George’s University of London and London South Bank University (LSBU) conduct a study to check the success of the ACE method for quitting smoking. The study is published in the academic journal “Addiction”.

The independently randomized controlled trial study enrolled 620 participants. Out of 620, 310 were included in the Allen Carr’s Easyway (ACE) and 310 were in the specialist anti-smoking service. An abstinence rate of the participants for about six months has been produced through the ACE method.

After the meeting the target date of quitting,19 percent of total participants for ACE compared with the 15 percent for specialist stop smoking service. Abstinence level of smoking was verified by measuring the amount of carbon monoxide in the breath of a participant during exhalation.

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The ACE method put emphasizes on cessation of smoking. It is a drug-free approach that compels the smokers to quit smoking. ACE includes a one group session that lasts for four and an hour to six-hour. It supports smokers by sending them text messages and by arranging top-up sessions. The main focus of Allen Carr’s Easyway (ACE) is to tell the smokers that smoking is harmful to them and does not provide any benefit. This is done through different ways of bringing improvements in smokers. UK National Health Service provides the standard treatments in comparison to ACE that put emphasis on the nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or Champix along with psychological sessions every week.

The study showed the through applying different approaches there was a great difference among the results. 91 % of participants enrolled in specialist anti-smoking service quit smoking by using NRT, e-cigarettes or Champix. On the other hand, only 13 % of the participants in the ACE group become successful in quitting smoking by using these products.

From the group of researchers, Professor Daniel Frings said the level of success rate in quitting smoking was observed in both the services. The rate of success in the gold standard randomized controlled trial study is indistinguishable to the specialist intervention service. This service is supported by combining the interventions with 1-1 psychological sessions along with NRT. The findings of the study support the ACE method for cessation of smoking.

The evaluation would be done to check the effectiveness of the ACE method as the ACE method is offering the drug-free approach for quitting smoking in smokers. This can be given in group therapy sessions. In the future, it may offer a reasonable and cost-effective treatment service for smokers in the public sector or any funded healthcare system.