A UK hospital taking part in NHS trials for a new, natural stop-smoking aid has come under attack from smoking cessation groups.

Liverpool Women's Hospital is conducting trials to determine whether pregnant women who are unable to give up using willpower alone would benefit from a new product called NicoBloc.

Giving up smoking is one of the most important things that people can do for their health and this is particularly true for to pregnant women. However, prevalence of smoking amongst expectant mothers is, surprisingly and unfortunately, high (Government White Paper 'Smoking Kills.' This aims at reducing prevalence from 23% to 15%), and only 3% of people stop smoking successfully when relying solely on willpower (Parrot, S Godfrey G, Raw M et al. 'A Guidance for Commissioners on the Cost Effectiveness of Smoking Cessation Interventions' Thorax 1998; 53 (Suppl. 5, part 2): SI-S38).

Research has also indicated that women are more emotionally dependent on smoking than men to control unpleasant feelings of stress and anxiety ( Livson N, Leino EV. 'Cigarette Smoking Motives: Factorial Structure and Gender Differences in a Longitudinal Study' Int. J Addiction 1988; 23 (6): 535-544). Setting an abrupt smoking cessation date would merely intensify the stress of pregnancy for mother, baby and family.

Maria Leahy, Medical Director, NicoBloc, states: "It is wonderful when pregnant women are able to give up smoking through willpower alone, but for those for whom the addiction is too strong, NicoBloc offers an excellent solution to assist them. NicoBloc is a simple, entirely safe, all-natural product and is a marvellous tool for pregnant mothers who wish to give up smoking. Nobody should underestimate how difficult it is to break this highly addictive habit and NicoBloc works with the smoker to reduce tar and nicotine intake, as well as cigarette consumption gradually."

NicoBloc consists of 100% FDA-approved food grade ingredients as a syrup that is applied in drops to the filter of a cigarette immediately before smoking to block up to 99% of the tar and nicotine from being inhaled (A point proven by independent clinical tests conducted at Stillwell & Gladding Laboratories, New York to FTC (Federal Trade Commission) standards).

By increasing the drops gradually to a maximum of three, while simultaneously reducing the number of cigarettes smoked daily, the smoker is gently weaned off both addiction and habit over an approximate six-week period.

Research demonstrates that, contrary to other opinion, smokers using NicoBloc on their cigarette filters do not draw harder to compensate for the lost level of nicotine (Pickworth et al. 'Effects of Cigarette Smoking through a Partially Occluded Filter' in Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behaviour Vol.60, No.4).

Susan Greenbank of the Queensland Cancer Fund, Australia, comments: "The fact that NicoBloc is all-natural makes it great for pregnant women trying to quit for their own health, but especially for the health of their unborn baby."

Anti-smoking campaigners, however, have expressed some concern at the use of NicoBloc amongst pregnant women. Given that NicoBloc allows smokers to continue to smoke whilst following a gradual giving up programme, pregnant women using the product continue to be exposed to cigarette smoke for a matter of weeks.

Those objecting to NicoBloc used by pregnant women who smoke believe that instead, they should stop smoking abruptly, using willpower or, more controversially, nicotine replacement products. NicoBloc maintains, however, that other than willpower alone, it is among the safest methods available to help expectant mothers give up smoking.

NicoBloc in no way encourages smoking; it is an all-natural, completely safe product for use by anyone, including people on medication, trying to give up smoking. Its approach allows smokers to gradually cease cigarette addiction and consumption with a view to quitting completely within approximately six weeks, thereby allowing the smoker to avoid uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms both physical and psychological.

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