According to the CDC, the U.S. is at its lowest recorded smoking rate in history. However, one Texas Tech Psychology Professor said it's not all good news, and he has an idea for improvement. Yi-Yuan Tang has been studying psychology for 16 years. He specializes in addiction.
"The smoker uses tobacco or an e-cigarette as a reward, so they feel calm and relaxed," Tang said. While smoking has declined, Tang said, addiction has remained.
"Electronic cigarettes also use vapor nicotine, so the nicotine addiction still remains a big concern," Tang. Plus, people often to move to other bad habits as a replacement.
"People overeat. People tend to go to online gambling," Tang said. So Tang studied a way to defeat dependence for good.
"I developed mindfulness-based intervention in the 1990's," Tang said. He tested the method on 5,000 people.
"This brief intervention can significantly increase self control," Tang said. It's called Integrative Body-Mind Training (IBMT), and it targets the brain's self-control network.
"This network will drive their behavior and habit," Tang said. IBMT involves several techniques including body relaxation, mental imagery and mindfulness training accompanied with music.
"We try to find the rooted cause, then we change the cause and they change their life," Tang said. Tang's study found just five hours of IBMT produces 60% smoking reduction with 30% of participants quitting. People also reported decreased cravings.
"So, are you aware of the change of your habit? They say, 'no I was not aware. It just happened,'" Tang said. For more information on IBMT visit yi-yuan.net or email .
