[Current approaches to smoking cessation].

Smoking causes about 5 Million deaths worldwide every year. Prevention and cessation of smoking should therefore be one of the most important public health priorities. The family doctor as a trusted contact and representative of the health care system plays an important role in this case. Smoking cessation can be achieved by a gradual cognitive-behavioral therapy which may be supported by pharmacotherapy. The continuous empathic support and motivation by the family doctor is however the most important factor. Even a small advance within this step-by-step strategy can be considered as a success which will be followed by further progress.