The Mindful Geek: A Radically New Way to Quit Smoking

Smoking kills. We all know it. The last 50 years have seen an explosion of anti-smoking campaigns as public health officials realize that smoking is a chief cause of cancer, cardiovascular illness and a host of other diseases. To some extent these campaigns have worked: We are seeing a dramatic reduction in smoking among younger generations. In 2013 the smoking rate among young people (about 19 percent)1 was nearly 25 percent lower than in 20051 and approaching 50 percent lower than in 1995.2 That is great progress, but frankly it isn't enough. Smoking remains the No. 1 cause of preventable disease and death in the United States; 42 million adults in this country are smokers 1 and tobacco use accounts for 1 out of every 5 deaths in the nation. 3 The biggest problem that anti-smoking advocates face is that quitting. But now there is a new way forward. An innovative researcher at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has been testing a set of technologically based forms of an acceptance and mindfulness-based therapy. The studies he's done to date are so exciting that he is a candidate for Geekwire's Geek of the Year Award. This man happens to be a good friend and colleague of mine. His name is Jonathan Bricker. He is bravely challenging the very foundation of existing smoking-cessation programs and getting dramatically better results while doing it. A Revolutionary Approach to Smoking Cessation I first met Jonathan at an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) workshop...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news