How to quit smoking? This question arises sooner or later for any smoker if they care about their own health. Assessing the scale of smoking prevalence in Russia, we can rely on the results of a VCIOM survey conducted in 2023. About 33% of the population over 18 years old in Russia smokes - that's about 43 million people. This statistic is comparable to the scale of the recent coronavirus pandemic - over 20 million people fell ill in Russia in the first two years alone. Smoking-related mortality is about 300,000 people annually. It is encouraging that since 2019, the number of smokers in Russia has been steadily decreasing; over five years, their share has dropped from 24.2% to 18.7%. Most often, quitting smoking on one's own, especially if the "smoking tenure" is several years, is very difficult. In such cases, it is worth consulting a psychotherapist-narcologist, as smoking is an addiction similar to alcoholism. Additionally, to choose the right treatment, the specialist will assess the degree of nicotine dependence, which is very important in selecting therapy. There are few remedies that ease the painful process of quitting smoking, but they do exist. Anti-nicotine drugs vary in composition and mechanism of action. Among them are medications, dietary supplements, and homeopathic remedies. What is the fundamental difference between these anti-nicotine drugs? Medications are aimed at reducing the craving for tobacco and helping a person get rid of the unpleasant sensations that arise from stopping the intake of nicotine from cigarettes: irritability, a strong desire to smoke, restlessness, or insomnia. Doctors call this condition "withdrawal syndrome." To reduce its manifestations, special drugs are used. Based on their mode of action, they can be divided into two groups: nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) drugs – these products contain nicotine in small doses and deliver it to the brain receptors, acting similarly to nicotine from cigarettes, allowing for a gradual cessation of smoking. Their use reduces the symptoms of "withdrawal syndrome" and nicotine dependence until complete cessation. With nicotine-containing medications, quitting cigarettes can be done gradually. If a person does not plan to quit smoking entirely, they can reduce the number of cigarettes smoked by replacing them with medications. The other group of drugs are nicotine receptor agonists, which do not contain nicotine but reduce the craving for it by acting on the natural function of protein receptors. They are also called blockers. If you intend to quit smoking abruptly, doctors usually recommend agonists. Their use requires complete cessation of smoking within 5-8 days from the start of treatment. Treatment with agonists takes about three months. What is important to remember about all these remedies? Any medication should be used after consulting a specialist who will help choose the optimal treatment considering the person's health condition and individual characteristics. Additionally, besides the advice of a narcologist or psychotherapist and medications, psychological support from loved ones is very helpful for those who decide to quit smoking.