Editing Nicotine Anonymous

{{short description|Twelve-step program}}

'''Nicotine Anonymous''' ('''NicA''') is a [[twelve-step program]] founded in 1982 for people desiring to [[Smoking cessation|quit smoking]] and live free of [[nicotine]].<ref name="LICHTENSTEIN1999">{{cite journal | last = Lichtenstein | first = E. | year = 1999 | title = Nicotine Anonymous: Community resource and research implications | journal = Psychology of Addictive Behaviors | volume = 13 | issue = 1 | pages = 60–68 | issn = 0893-164X | doi = 10.1037/0893-164X.13.1.60}}</ref> As of July 2017, there are over 700 face-to-face meetings in 32 countries worldwide<ref name="meetings">{{cite web|title=Find A Meeting|url=http://nicotine-anonymous.org/overview2.html|website=Nicotine Anonymous|accessdate=1 August 2017}}</ref> with the majority of these meetings occurring in the [[United States]],<ref name="meetings"/> [[Iran]],{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} [[India]],<ref name="meetings"/> [[Canada]],<ref name="meetings"/> [[Brazil]],<ref name="meetings"/> the [[United Kingdom]],<ref name="meetings"/> [[Australia]],<ref name="meetings"/> [[Russia]]<ref name="meetings"/> and in various [[online community]] and [[social media]] platforms.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}. NicA maintains that total abstinence from nicotine is necessary for recovery.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Humphreys|first1=Keith|title=Circles of Recovery: Self-Help Organizations for Addictions|date=2004|location=Cambridge, England|isbn=978-0-521-79277-6|pages=77–78}}</ref> NicA defines abstinence as “a state that begins when all use of nicotine ceases.<ref>{{cite web|title=Abstinence, What is it?|url=http://nicotine-anonymous.org/abstinence-what-is-it.html|website=Nicotine Anonymous|accessdate=1 August 2017}}</ref>

The first meetings began in February 1982 one on one meetings between a group of Southern California AA members to focus specifically on smoking cessation. These meetings began under the name Smokers Anonymous in [[Los Angeles]]. In June 1982 the founders, Rodger F, Robert K, Stephanie S, Dan H, began holding group meetings in Santa Monica California. Shortly thereafter another group independently started in [[San Francisco]].<ref name="LICHTENSTEIN1999"/><ref name="NICASITEHIST">{{cite web | title = A Brief History of Nicotine Anonymous | author = Nicotine Anonymous | accessdate = 2007-09-18 | url = http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org/admin/prod_images/Brief%20History%20of%20Nicotine%20Anonymousrevised.pdf | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070923032832/http://nicotine-anonymous.org/admin/prod_images/Brief%20History%20of%20Nicotine%20Anonymousrevised.pdf | archivedate = 2007-09-23 }}</ref>

In 1983, a [[Manhattan, New York]] group of meetings formed independently, also formed by recovering AA members, specifically to address their smoking [[addiction]]. They called themselves "AA for Non-Smokers". During the same period, two groups started in [[Cleveland, Ohio]].{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

Then in May 1985, Maurice Z., a [[California]] member, authored an article for [[Reader’s Digest]]. Thousands of letters poured in from people wanting to know more about this new Twelve-Step fellowship. That year Smokers Anonymous groups started independently in [[Woodstock, NY]] and in [[Islip, NY]]. Within a year there were a hundred meetings identified.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

In 1986 the group members met for their first conference in [[Bakersfield, California]] to form a fellowship, originally known as ''Smokers Anonymous''.<ref name="LICHTENSTEIN1999"/><ref name="NICASITEHIST">{{cite web | title = A Brief History of Nicotine Anonymous | author = Nicotine Anonymous | accessdate = 2007-09-18 | url = http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org/admin/prod_images/Brief%20History%20of%20Nicotine%20Anonymousrevised.pdf | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070923032832/http://nicotine-anonymous.org/admin/prod_images/Brief%20History%20of%20Nicotine%20Anonymousrevised.pdf | archivedate = 2007-09-23 }}</ref>

These groups met again in 1987 in [[Monterey, California]]. In April 1988, the fellowship’s first official World Services Conference was held in [[San Francisco]].{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

The fellowship was renamed Nicotine Anonymous in [[Phoenix, Arizona]] at the 1990 World Services Conference because the Smokers Anonymous trademark was not available, but also, importantly, the delegates decided the focus of recovery should be on the drug nicotine rather than any single nicotine delivery system.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

In 2000, "NicA" was selected to abbreviate Nicotine Anonymous at the annual World Service Conference.<ref name="LICHTENSTEIN1999"/><ref name="NICASITEHIST">{{cite web | title = A Brief History of Nicotine Anonymous | author = Nicotine Anonymous | accessdate = 2007-09-18 | url = http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org/admin/prod_images/Brief%20History%20of%20Nicotine%20Anonymousrevised.pdf | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070923032832/http://nicotine-anonymous.org/admin/prod_images/Brief%20History%20of%20Nicotine%20Anonymousrevised.pdf | archivedate = 2007-09-23 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://nicotine-anonymous.org/overview1.html|website=Nicotine Anonymous|accessdate=1 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Nicotine Anonymous: The Book|publisher=Nicotine Anonymous World Services|location=Dallas, TX|isbn=978-0-9770115-5-1|edition=5th|date=September 2008}}</ref>

Adapted with permission of [[Alcoholics Anonymous]] World Services, Inc., the [[Twelve Traditions]] are utilized by Nicotine Anonymous as fundamental guiding principles. Nicotine Anonymous operates with an elected, all volunteer, nine member board of officers and a set of [[by-laws]]. The board meets regularly to discuss how to be of service to the organization including organizing its annual World Service Conference and monitoring a number of appointed committee coordinators and the Nicotine Anonymous World Service home office located in [[Dallas, TX]]. The office keeps regularly updated meeting lists, manages the website and its online store, distributes NicA literature and free Meeting Starter Kits, and serves as a resource for members or any interested nicotine user.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}} There are no dues or fees for NicA membership, as stated in Tradition Three: "the only requirement for Nicotine Anonymous membership is a desire to stop using nicotine."<ref name="NICATRADITIONS">{{cite web |url=http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org/pubs_content.php?pub_id=19 |title=Nicotine Anonymous Publications, Literature and Pamphlets |accessdate=2008-05-01 |date=2008-05-01 |author=Nicotine Anonymous |publisher=Nicotine Anonymous World Services |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501022443/http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org/pubs_content.php?pub_id=19 |archivedate=2008-05-01 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Nicotine Anonymous Steps & Traditions|url=http://nicotine-anonymous.org/basics.html|website=Nicotine Anonymous|accessdate=1 August 2017}}</ref>

In 1996, NicA ranked twelfth in size among the thirteen twelve-step organizations studied by Klaus Makela.<ref name="MAKELA1996">{{cite book |last=Makela |first=Klaus |title=Alcoholics Anonymous as a Mutual-help Movement: A Study in Eight Societies |url=https://archive.org/details/alcoholicsanonym00mkel |url-access=registration |year=1996 |publisher=[[University of Wisconsin Press]] |isbn=978-0-299-15004-4}}</ref> Sponsorship and lifetime attendance is not emphasized as much as in other [[twelve-step program]]s. The average meeting size is about seven people.<ref name="LICHTENSTEIN1999"/>

Although both drinking and smoking are recognized by many respondents as imposing burdens on the family,<ref name="ROBIN1996">{{cite journal |last=Robin |first=Room |title=Patterns of family responses to alcohol and tobacco problems |journal=Drug and Alcohol Review |volume=15 |issue=2 |date=June 1996 |pages=171–181 |doi=10.1080/09595239600185821 |pmid=16203367|s2cid=11917737 }}</ref> there are no auxiliary support groups for friends and family of smokers related to NicA; as [[Al-Anon]] meetings were created for friends and family members of [[alcoholics]]. Nicotine Anonymous World Services does, however, offer a pamphlet, ''Are You Concerned About Someone Who Smokes or Chews Tobacco?'' with information for friends and family of nicotine users.<ref name="NICAPUBS">{{cite web |url=http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org/pubs_content.php?pub_id=7 |title=Nicotine Anonymous Publications: Pamphlets in English |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110001732/http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org/pubs.php|archivedate=January 10, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Success in achieving smoking abstinence using current smoking therapies such as Nicotine Anonymous, cognitive-behavioral group therapy, nicotine replacement therapies and bupropion (Zyban) ranges from 9% to 40% in different studies.<ref name="GREEN2003"/> Alcoholics and drug addicts have better smoking cessation success rates when attempting to quit smoking early in recovery.<ref name="SUSSMAN2002">{{cite journal | last = Sussman | first = S. | title = Smoking cessation among persons in recovery | journal = Substance Use and Misuse | volume = 37 | issue = 8–10 | year = 2002 | pages = 1275–1298 | pmid = 12180567 | issn = 1082-6084 | doi = 10.1081/JA-120004185| s2cid = 8904845 }}</ref> Combining psychosocial and pharmacological treatments increases smoking cessation success rates.<ref name="HUGHES2003">{{cite journal | last = Hughes | first = John R. | title = Motivating and Helping Smokers to Stop Smoking | journal = Journal of General Internal Medicine | issn = 0884-8734 | volume = 18 | issue = 12 |date=December 2003 | pages = 1053–1057 | doi = 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2003.20640.x | pmid = 14687265 | pmc = 1494968}}</ref> Acupuncture, hypnosis, inpatient treatment, and Nicotine Anonymous have not been shown effective thus far.<ref name="FIORE2000">{{cite book |last=Fiore |first=Michael C. |author2=Bailey, William C. |author3=Cohen, Stuart J. |author4=Dorfman, Sally Faith |author5=Goldstein, Michael G. |author6=Gritz, Ellen R. |author7=Heyman, Richard B. |author8=Jaén, Carlos Roberto |author9=Kottke, Thomas E. |author10=Lando, Harry A. |author11=Mecklenburg, Robert E. |author12=Mullen, Patricia Dolan |author13=Nett, Louise M. |author14=Robinson, Lawrence |author15=Stitzer, Maxine L. |author16=Tommasello, Anthony C. |author17=Villejo, Louise |author18=Wewers, Mary Ellen |title=Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: Clinical Practice Guideline |publisher=U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service |date=June 2000 |location=[[Rockville, MD]] |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=hstat2.chapter.7644}}</ref>

In a survey of 104 smokers (ages 18 and older) 78% reported they believed spiritual resources could be helpful in an attempt to quit smoking. In the same survey, male smokers, ages 31 and over, and females were found to be significantly more open to using spiritual resources in the smoking cessation process than controls. Heavy smokers, those smoking more than fifteen cigarettes per day, were also significantly more receptive to encouragement of spiritual resources in an attempt to quit.<ref name="GONZALES2007">{{cite journal | last = Gonzales | first = David |author2=Redtomahawk, Donovan |author3=Pizacani, Barbara |author4=Bjornson, Wendy G. |author5=Spradley, Janet |author6=Allen, Elizabeth |author7= Lees, Paul |date=February 2007 | pages = 299–303 | doi = 10.1080/14622200601078582 | journal = Nicotine & Tobacco Research | title = Support for spirituality in smoking cessation: Results of pilot survey | volume = 9 | pmid = 17365761 | issue = 2}}</ref>

[[Alcoholism|Alcoholics]] may have experienced twelve-step approaches to recovery and therefore may be more open to the possibility that same approach can be used to initiate and maintain abstinence from tobacco use.<ref name="HURT2002">{{cite book | last = Hurt | first = Richard D. |author2=Patten, Christi A. | title = Treatment of Tobacco Dependence in Alcoholics | volume = 16 | issue = 5 | year = 2002 | isbn = 978-0-306-47939-7 | doi = 10.1007/b100495 | pages = 335–359 | publisher = Kluwer Academic | location = New York | pmid=12638636 | series = Recent Developments in Alcoholism | editor1-last = Galanter | editor1-first = Marc | editor2-last = Begleiter | editor2-first = Henri | editor3-last = Deitrich | editor3-first = Richard |display-editors = 3 | editor4-last = Gallant | editor4-first = Donald}}</ref> The first edition of ''Nicotine Anonymous: The Book'' published results of an internal survey of members showing that 25% of members responding to a survey on the topic reported they had prior twelve-step experience.<ref name="LICHTENSTEIN1999"/> Many smokers do not see group treatment as a potentially useful.<ref name="LICHTENSTEIN1992">{{cite journal |last=Lichtenstein |first=E |author2=Hollis, J. |title=Patient referral to a smoking cessation program: who follows through? |journal=Journal of Family Practice |volume=34 |issue=6 |date=June 1992 |pages=739–744 |pmid=1593248}}</ref>

The pamphlets provide information to new and prospective members, and include titles as follows: ''Introducing Nicotine Anonymous; To the Newcomer and Sponsorship in Nicotine Anonymous; Out Policy of Openness; How Nicotine Anonymous Works; Nicotine Anonymous the Program and the Tools; A Nicotine User's View of the Twelve Steps; The Serenity Prayer for Nicotine Users; Slogans to Help Us be Happy, Joyous, and Free Living Without Nicotine; Abstinence: What is it?; Tips for Gaining Freedom From Nicotine; Facing the Fatal Attraction; To the Dipper and Chewer; Our Promises; World Services, My intergroup, and Me; Introducing Nicotine Anonymous to the Medical Profession; Are You Concerned About Someone Who Smokes or Chews Tobacco? For the Friends and Family of Nicotine Addicts''. ''Voices of NicA'' is a CD that has audio shares from members covering their experience, strength and hope in their nicotine recovery. There is also a CD with an audio content of ''Nicotine Anonymous: The Book'' and ''Our Path to Freedom''. ''Seven Minutes'' is a quarterly newsletter used to keep members informed about developments within the organization and members’ recovery contributions.

* {{cite book |author=Nicotine Anonymous World Services |title=Nicotine Anonymous: The Book |location=[[Huntington Beach, CA]] |publisher=Nicotine Anonymous World Services |date=September 2004 |oclc=32687553 |edition=3rd |isbn=978-0-9770115-0-6}}

* {{cite book |author=Nicotine Anonymous World Services |title=Our Path to Freedom: Twelve Stories of Recovery |location=[[Huntington Beach, CA]] |publisher=Nicotine Anonymous World Services |isbn=978-0-9770115-1-3 |date=August 2003}}

* {{cite book |author=Nicotine Anonymous World Services |title=90 Days, 90 Ways |location=[[Huntington Beach, CA]] |publisher=Nicotine Anonymous World Services |isbn=978-0-9770115-2-0 |date=October 2004}}

* {{cite book |author=Nicotine Anonymous World Services |date=2012 |title=Nicotine Anonymous Newcomer's Booklet |location=[[Dallas, TX]] |publisher=Nicotine Anonymous World Services}}

* [http://www.realfriendsandfamily.org/sa.html Smokers Anonymous] (not accessible)

[[Category:Smoking cessation]]