PITTSBURGH, Dec. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- With the dawn of a new millennium taking place in a matter of hours, smokers will have to wait another thousand years for a better date to quit. And now, a new tool arrives just in time to help.

Committed Quitters(R), the tailor-made, revolutionary stop smoking program originated by SmithKline Beecham Consumer Healthcare, has found a new home on the World Wide Web. Launched today, http://www.CommittedQuitters.com seeks to meet the demands of the growing Internet-savvy audience by providing a customized support program and self-help materials at the click of a mouse. The site will serve as a valuable resource not only for smokers thinking about quitting, but also for ex-smokers who want to stay that way for life. Initially developed in 1996 as a companion to the Nicorette(R) nicotine gum and NicoDerm(R)CQ(R) nicotine patch stop smoking therapies, Committed Quitters is a departure from the "one size fits all" philosophy that dominates other smoking cessation programs. Instead, Committed Quitters surveys people on their individualized smoking history and reasons for quitting. This information is then entered into a computer program that provides smokers with both general information and individualized materials that will help them to quit. "Research has demonstrated that the Committed Quitters program can improve a smoker's chances of quitting by more than 25 percent, versus the use of nicotine replacement therapy alone," said Saul Shiffman, Ph.D., Director of the Smoking Research Group at the University of Pittsburgh. "Therefore, it remains imperative for smokers to participate in tailor-made programs like Committed Quitters and increase their chances of quitting successfully." CommittedQuitters.com allows customers to obtain their information instantaneously via e-mail in the privacy of their own home, 24-hours a day, seven days a week versus waiting to receive their support materials in the mail. "CommitedQuitters.com was a natural step in the evolution of our stop smoking program," said Steve L. Burton, Director of Marketing for SmithKline Beecham Consumer Healthcare, the marketers for Nicorette and NicoDerm CQ. "By providing consumers with online access to this program, we hope to get this valuable information to them quicker, and put them on the road to being smoke-free that much faster." Consumers who purchase Nicorette, Nicorette Mint or NicoDerm CQ starter kits automatically have the option to enroll in the free, 12-week Committed Quitters Program, either by phone, or by using the CommittedQuitters.com pin number found in each kit. Should consumers choose to join online, they will be asked to enter relevant smoking information and will then receive their tailor-made stop smoking program instantly. These materials, which can be downloaded to their computer, address topics such as motives for quitting smoking, barriers to staying smoke-free, high-risk situations, level of support and constraints to using nicotine replacement therapies. At the end of the 12-week period, participants receive an award packet for completing the program and becoming nicotine-free. CommittedQuitters.com also features the following menu options: I am a Smoker -- Provides access to two quick quizzes that assess the smoker's nicotine dependency level and examines why a person smokes. Thinking About Quitting -- Provides information on how smokers can utilize personalized Committed Quitters behavioral support materials in their attempt to quit smoking. Ready to Quit -- Includes a step-by-step countdown list to help you quit I Quit Smoking -- Includes tips to reduce stress and cravings -- Provides nutritional information to keep smokers on the road to success Interactive Resources -- Savings Calculator -- enables smokers to calculate how much money is saved by not buying cigarettes -- Craving Tracker -- allows smokers to track number of cravings against number of cigarettes smoked and presents results graphically in a chart Relapse Help -- Offers tips to help smokers get back on course with their quit attempt Help a Friend -- Enables smokers to send a postcard about the Committed Quitters program to a friend With the 1996 launch of Nicorette nicotine gum and NicoDerm CQ nicotine patch, and more recently, the 1999 launch of Nicorette Mint, SmithKline Beecham became the first company in the United States to offer FDA-approved, over-the-counter (OTC) nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for people who want to stop smoking. NicoDerm CQ is the leading nicotine patch and the only non- prescription brand that offers a choice of three strengths that can be worn for either 16 or 24 hours. Both Nicorette and Nicorette Mint nicotine gum allow smokers to control cravings two ways: they can use it on a regular basis to prevent cravings, and then take an extra piece to control cravings. Nicorette Mint, which works the same as original Nicorette, is sugar-free and available with a choice of the same two strengths -- 2mg (for smokers of 24 or fewer cigarettes each day) and 4mg (for smokers of 25 or more cigarettes each day). SmithKline Beecham -- one of the world's leading health care companies -- discovers, develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, vaccines, over-the-counter medicines and health-related consumer products. For company information, visit SmithKline Beecham on the World Wide Web at http://www.sb.com. SmithKline Beecham's Web sites are the only online destinations that offer information about both FDA-approved, OTC stop smoking aids, plus a clinically proven behavioral support system, the Committed Quitters Program. To learn more about Nicorette and NicoDerm CQ and other SBCH stop smoking initiatives, visit the following Web sites: http://www.nicorette.com, http://www.nicoderm.com or http://www.niconews.com. For more information about Committed Quitters, visit the program's Web site at http://www.CommittedQuitters.com. SOURCE SmithKline Beecham Copyright 1999, PR Newswire

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