Because the effects of nicotine are deadly, because cigarettes are so addictive (some research indicates it’s harder to kick nicotine than it is heroin), any and all efforts should be made to quit smoking.

In trying to wean themselves off of “cancer sticks,” many people turn to nicotine replacement in the form of patches that deliver minute amounts of the chemical compound over time, or via chewing gum, inhalers or nasal spray. But a study released last week indicates that these measures aren’t what they’re cracked up to be.

As widely reported, a study of 787 adults who had quit smoking within the previous two years showed that nearly more than 3 in 10 had relapsed. Subjects who had used nicotine patches, gum, inhalers or nasal sprays were just as likely to relapse as those who had quit without them.