Quitting smoking - Laser therapy?

[tk149]

Normally, I would have just said this was just snake oil, but...

I just talked to two coworkers, and they both went to http://www.laserassociatesofrockford.com/index.html

for smoking cessation laser therapy. Both were heavy smokers (a pack per day). One has been smoke-free for over a year, and the other has been smoke-free for a week. They also talked about relatives who also went through the laser therapy and are now smoke-free.

I don't have daily contact with either of them, but a third coworker said that one of the ex-smokers did indeed smoke a lot a year ago, but he hasn't seen her touch a cigarette since.

One of the ex-smokers said that the therapy involves acupuncture points, except that they use a laser instead of a needle.

Does this method work?

 

[OpenThirdEye]

wow! never heard of this, but I'd love to know if this really works!

 

[effowe]

Yeah I'd like to know about this as well. A guy I work with was telling me about it and says it really does work, anyone here try it?

 

[Kyle]

Works for some, not for most- same as acupuncture. Actually most the people I talk to that try it quit for a little bit then go right back to smoking. A lot of the addiction is not jus to the nicotine, its the behavioral and emotional attachment to smoking as well, neither of which this will will help with.
Maybe see if your insurance company covers Chantix - new FDA approved smoking cessation drug that seems to really work for the majority of the people I've talked to, however I'd also recommend calling a quit line to work on the behavioral/emotional side of the addiction while the chantix works on the physical cravings, just so you don't end up smoking again when you are off the chantix.


*edit*
I should add- that snake oil or not, if you really believe that it will work, for some people that is enough to motivate them high enough to "prove" that it worked and not smoke again. Then again, some people can quit cold turkey with no problems...it really just varies with the individual...

 

[tk149]

Originally posted by: Kyle
Works for some, not for most- same as acupuncture. Actually most the people I talk to that try it quit for a little bit then go right back to smoking. A lot of the addiction is not jus to the nicotine, its the behavioral and emotional attachment to smoking as well, neither of which this will will help with.
Maybe see if your insurance company covers Chantix - new FDA approved smoking cessation drug that seems to really work for the majority of the people I've talked to, however I'd also recommend calling a quit line to work on the behavioral/emotional side of the addiction while the chantix works on the physical cravings, just so you don't end up smoking again when you are off the chantix.


*edit*
I should add- that snake oil or not, if you really believe that it will work, for some people that is enough to motivate them high enough to "prove" that it worked and not smoke again. Then again, some people can quit cold turkey with no problems...it really just varies with the individual...

To be fair, their website does state that their therapy only helps with the physical dependence, not the mental.

Also, the ex-smokers I talked to said that their smoke cravings just disappeared completely after the therapy. That seems much stronger than just a placebo effect, but who knows?

I also just found out that yet another coworker has a sister who actually works there. (small world! )He's going to try to dig up some "inside" information this weekend.

 

[pontifex]

what, do they shoot you with a painful laser beam every time you reach for the cigs?

 

[jman19]

The physical dependancy is short lived. The real challenge is in losing the mental/behavioral desire.

 

[Kyle]

Originally posted by: tk149

Originally posted by: Kyle
Works for some, not for most- same as acupuncture. Actually most the people I talk to that try it quit for a little bit then go right back to smoking. A lot of the addiction is not jus to the nicotine, its the behavioral and emotional attachment to smoking as well, neither of which this will will help with.
Maybe see if your insurance company covers Chantix - new FDA approved smoking cessation drug that seems to really work for the majority of the people I've talked to, however I'd also recommend calling a quit line to work on the behavioral/emotional side of the addiction while the chantix works on the physical cravings, just so you don't end up smoking again when you are off the chantix.


*edit*
I should add- that snake oil or not, if you really believe that it will work, for some people that is enough to motivate them high enough to "prove" that it worked and not smoke again. Then again, some people can quit cold turkey with no problems...it really just varies with the individual...

To be fair, their website does state that their therapy only helps with the physical dependence, not the mental.

Also, the ex-smokers I talked to said that their smoke cravings just disappeared completely after the therapy. That seems much stronger than just a placebo effect, but who knows?

I also just found out that yet another coworker has a sister who actually works there. (small world! )He's going to try to dig up some "inside" information this weekend.

Ya, I do see that it states that.
I actually work at a stop smoking program that handles a bunch of the state quit lines and a bunch of ins./companies so I talk to people every day that try things like these. Just from my experience, I've talked to tons of people who try it or plan to try it, and call back saying it didnt really do anything.
Again, not saying that for some people it wont work

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: pontifex
what, do they shoot you with a painful laser beam every time you reach for the cigs?

Laser Technician 1: ARE YOU GONNA QUIT?!
Hopelessly Addicted Patient: NO!
*ZAP*
HAP: OW! ....I CAN TAKE IT! BRING IT!
LT1: I SAID ARE YOU GONNA QUIT?!
HAP: *defiantly lights cigarette*
LT1: *cranks up laser power*
*ZAPZAPZAP*
HAP: AAARGH!!!! NOOO!!!
LT1: ARE YOU GONNA QUIT?!
HAP: *takes a drag and blows it in LT1's face*
LT1: *cranks laser power to max*
*ZZZZZZZZZZZZAAAAP*
*SIZZLE*
*POOF*
LT1 (to carbonized HAP corpse): Who's smoking now, bitch?
LT1 (into intercom): Hey Frank, bring the dustpan and broom in here, got another one for you to clean up!

 

[torpid]

More or less a scam.