How to quit smoking, according to scientists

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It's not easy to quit smoking.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death. But by some estimates, it could take as many as 30 tries to quit.

In July, the FDA came out with plans to limit the amount of nicotine in cigarettes, with the aim of not making them addictive. The news sent tobacco stocks falling. Researchers have speculated that cutting nicotine levels could make it easier for smokers to quit, and keep new smokers from getting addicted.

"Rendering cigarettes minimally addictive or nonaddictive, within a landscape including other, noncombustible products such as e-cigarettes, represents a promising foundation for a comprehensive approach to tobacco harm reduction," FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in the New England Journal of Medicine.

In the meantime, however, there are some science-backed approaches that can help you quit. Business Insider spoke to Dr. Michael Fiore, director of the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention to get some tips on how to quit.

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Get prepared before you stop smoking.

First thing's first: it's important to keep in mind that there's no one foolproof way to quit smoking. "Quitting smoking is hard work," Fiore said. But you can combine a few tactics that can make the process easier.

If you've had a smoking habit for a while, quitting right away can be a nearly impossible task. Ahead of quitting, the National Institutes of Health's website SmokeFree.gov recommends having a plan. That includes laying out why you want to quit, whether it's for your health or your family. It could also mean letting your friends and family know you're planning to quit, and identifying possible triggers that could cause you to start smoking again.

Consider nicotine replacement therapy, like patches or gum.

Fiore said he recommends using medication as a component of your plan to quit smoking.

According to the NIH, nicotine replacement therapies, such as patches or gums, help alleviate some of the symptoms of withdrawal by giving you small amounts of nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive substance that's found in tobacco.

Take smoking-cessation medication.

There are other non-nicotine approaches to quitting that you can use. Fiore highlighted varenicline, otherwise known as Chantix, as one possible approach during the first few months you're quitting. The drug Zyban is another option. The two work to block receptors, keeping the nicotine from activating the brain.

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