(May 21, 2008 - Insidermedicine) Smoking habits are passed along to others through both close and distant ties, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Here are some common smoking cessations aids:

•    Support groups and counseling: let you know what to expect and better cope with withdrawal.

•    Nicotine replacement therapies: these can take the form of skin patches, gum, sprays, or inhalers. They contain a small amount of nicotine to help reduce cravings.

•    Antidepressant drugs: Bupropion SR, commonly known as Zyban, is a prescription antidepressant drug that can help reduce the urge to smoke.

Researchers from Harvard Medical School used statistical analyses to explore the social, work, and family networks of over 12,000 participants in a study. They explored the degree to which these ties affected the participants' smoking habits between 1971 and 2003.

Within each networks of individuals, the researchers identified clusters of smokers and nonsmokers. While the overall number of participants who smoked decreased over time, the size of each individual cluster of smokers remained about the same, suggesting that people tend to quit smoking in groups. Having a spouse who quit smoking reduced the chances of smoking by 67%, while having a friend who quit reduced it by 36% and having a sibling who quit reduced it by 25%. In small companies, having a coworker who quit reduced the chances of smoking by 34%. The more highly educated people were, the more they influenced their friends' smoking habits.

Today's research demonstrates how smoking behavior spreads through social, work, and, family networks. It suggests that smoking cessation programs may work better if aimed at groups rather than individuals and indicates that one person quitting may lead to others quitting too.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.