It is widely believed that simply not thinking about smoking can help people to quit smoking. A recent study has questioned this however.

A study team at the University of London has warned smokers that when they avoid thinking about cigarettes, they harm their chances of being able to stop smoking. The team found that at first, the method can help reduce a smoker’s intake. However, after a while, smokers will eventually smoke more than usual if they start thinking about cigarettes again.

The team used 85 subjects who all smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day. The smokers were split in to three groups and asked to document their cigarette intake. The 3 groups were allowed to behave as usual for the first week. During the second week of the study, a group of 30 of the smokers were asked to suppress thoughts of smoking. Another group of 29 were asked to actively think about smoking, whilst the third control group were not asked to change their behaviour.

As the groups all smoked a different amount of cigarettes in the first week, a formula was put in place to monitor changes in the smokers for the 2nd and 3rd weeks.

The researchers found that in the 2nd week, the smokers who suppressed their thoughts smoked on average, 3 less cigarettes than they smoked in the 1st week. However they started smoking 3 more cigarettes in the 3rd week compared to the 1st week, after they stopped suppressing their thoughts.

“Obvious implications”

“These findings have obvious implications for individuals seeking to give up certain behaviours” said Dr James Erskine, who was co-author of the study. “If trying to avoid thoughts of something in an attempt to give it up actually unwittingly triggers a subsequent increase, it's a poor method of achieving self-control. This work may stop people using quitting techniques that are ultimately harmful.”

Recent figures have shown that a record number of smokers in the UK have been able to quit the habit. The NHS reported the figures that revealed that smokers have been able to quit using will power, stop smoking aids, and medical treatments such as Champix.