Clinical Tip: The straw that breaks Joe Camel's back

One of my teenage patients who is trying to quit smoking passed along the following tip, which may help young smokers in your practice: The patient told me that she carries around a package of colorful straws and places one in her mouth when she feels a craving for a cigarette. She says that blowing through the straw and biting on it helps simulate the experience of having a cigarette in her mouth and reduces her need to smoke by giving her mouth something to do.

Stacey Maslow, MDFramingham, Mass.