The Pulse

Up in Smoke


Listen Later

The patch, the gum, lozenges, medication — it seems like there are endless ways to quit smoking. But for some people, none of them work, and they have to head off the beaten path to find something that’ll help them quit.

On this episode, we take a look at some of the less-studied ways people have used to quit smoking, why they work — or don’t — and what can get in the way.

We hear stories about Allen Carr, the man behind “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking,” and his quest to gain acceptance from the scientific mainstream; American Indians’ deep cultural connection to tobacco, and how it’s been exploited; and the truth behind the effects of vaping on our health, and what that means for ex-smokers.

Also heard on this week’s episode:

  • Vaping has been marketed as a revolutionary tool to help smokers quit — but are e-cigarettes actually healthier than regular ones? Reporter Liz Tung looks into what we know about the risks of vaping, what caused EVALI, the mysterious lung-related illness that’s been linked to e-cigarettes, and how all of the above is affecting smokers who’ve decided they’re ready to quit.
  • ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    The PulseBy WHYY

    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6

    4.6

    305 ratings


    More shows like The Pulse

    View all
    This American Life by This American Life

    This American Life

    90,994 Listeners

    TED Radio Hour by NPR

    TED Radio Hour

    21,790 Listeners

    Radiolab by WNYC Studios

    Radiolab

    43,898 Listeners

    Fresh Air by NPR

    Fresh Air

    38,062 Listeners

    The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

    The New Yorker Radio Hour

    6,826 Listeners

    Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

    Hidden Brain

    43,528 Listeners

    Selected Shorts by Symphony Space

    Selected Shorts

    2,868 Listeners

    On the Media by WNYC Studios

    On the Media

    9,237 Listeners

    On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti by WBUR

    On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti

    3,998 Listeners

    Reveal by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX

    Reveal

    8,454 Listeners

    Voices in the Family by WHYY

    Voices in the Family

    39 Listeners

    Think from KERA by KERA

    Think from KERA

    932 Listeners

    Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

    Science Friday

    6,435 Listeners

    1A by NPR

    1A

    4,681 Listeners

    Throughline by NPR

    Throughline

    16,399 Listeners

    Short Wave by NPR

    Short Wave

    6,564 Listeners

    Eleanor Amplified by WHYY

    Eleanor Amplified

    2,211 Listeners

    A.I. Nation by WHYY

    A.I. Nation

    192 Listeners