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Can social media help people stop smoking?

The science says yes.

When it comes dangerous habits, smoking is one of the toughest to quit. The latest numbers suggest nearly half a million people die from smoking every year in the U.S. alone. People use everything from gum and patches to hypnosis to try and avoid that fate. But a new study out of the University of Georgia says that social networks might also help curb addiction to smoking. Partly because in our always-online world, people can find support any time they need it. Joe Phua is an assistant professor at the University of Georgia who conducted the study, and he explains how it works.

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