People all over Cherokee County made a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking in 2005.

Nearly 48 million Americans smoke. Of these, fully 70 percent — nearly 34 million — want to quit, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

The Welplex Stop Smoking Clinic in Charlotte says it can help patients drop the habit with one appointment.

“If it works like they say it does, that would be amazing,” said Shannon Wylie, Cardiopulmonary Director at Upstate Carolina Medical Center.

“I haven’t heard of this therapy,” she said. “But in my experience with smokers it isn’t that they don’t want to quit, the problem is that they feel they just can’t do it.”

Donna Maxwell, who owns the Welplex Clinic, is confident the company’s patented system can help anyone stop smoking in just one visit.

“We have clinics all over the nation,” she said. “This is a medical treatment for nicotine addiction in any form, whether it be cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, gum or patches.”

Maxwell continued, “It takes about an hour and 30 minutes, you’re treated by a doctor with medicines that have been in use since the 1800s and you have your last cigarette right before you come through the door to the clinic.”

The key to the process is a new patented combination of these existing drugs, two of which are Atropine and Scopolamine. These drugs have been used for a variety of purposes in the medical field for many years. U.S. soldiers are given emergency doses of Atropine to carry into battle as an antidote for nerve gas attacks and Scopolamine was once widely used in combination with Morphine to produce a state known as ‘twilight sleep’ in obstetrics anesthesia.

“We give atropine to patients whose heart has slowed down,” said Wylie. “From what I’ve learned of this treatment (from Welplex) it may very well be successful. I’m curious myself, but even the American Cancer Society says that the one system people have used to have the most success in quitting is to just go ‘cold turkey.’ The key is to have a support group of friends or family who can help you and to make sure you change your behavior patterns so you aren’t tempted to smoke again.”

Maxwell said Welplex also stressed the importance of changing behavior, but that the medicine used helps tremendously by eliminating classic nicotine withdrawal symptoms, like over-eating or shaking uncontrollably.

“We give patients a series of three shots at the office,” Maxwell said. “The patented combination of ingredients works as a blocker for the nicotine receptors in the body. In effect, you fool your body so that it doesn’t know you aren’t getting any nicotine. Then you take a pill for the next two weeks to keep blocking those receptors. Without those withdrawal symptoms, it makes it much easier for patients to stick with their desire to quit.”

The cost for the treatment at Welplex is around $492. The clinic does not accept medical insurance of any kind.

“Some insurance companies will pay for the process,” Maxwell added. “And many plans cover the initial testing we do, like EKGs and blood pressure tests.”

Wylie and others are still skeptical about the 3-shot method.

“I just feel if it were the miracle drug that it claims, everyone would be using it,” she said. “In all the classes I’ve taught, the biggest thing is having a support group of friends and family. After all, those are the people who want you to quit the most.”

The Welplex clinic can be reached at 1-888-527-8783.

Upstate Carolina Medical Center offers classes on quitting smoking, and Shannon Wylie can be contacted at 487-1586.