On Smokeout Day, What We Know About How to Quit

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I tried cold turkey and was successful for about 3 months. I am now smoke free again after over a month and a half with the help of a personal vaporizer (formerly known as electronic cigarettes). The FDA wanted to ban these great devices over their fear of the unknown and the tobacco industry's inability to capitalize on them. That ban has failed so far. Thousands of people have quit smoking using these things and I believe many others will be able to as well. The reality, however, is that whatever works best for an individual is what they should do.
And I have to congratulate the previous poster who quit smoking using marijuana. I quit drinking that way, without abusing it or becoming a "pothead."

Reality of CO 4:05PM November 19, 2009

I smoked for 13 years, beginning when I was 13. At age 26 I finally opened my eyes and saw that it had not only killed several members of my family (including my father), but that it would likely kill me. So I quit.
I chewed toothpicks for about two weeks to relieve the manual habit and other than a few pangs, nothing. I've never started up again although I enjoy a cigar once or twice a month without inhaling.
Why could I quit so easily while others seem to be unable?

PK of SC 4:02PM November 19, 2009

What the FDA and the Cancer Society won't tell you is that there is plentiful clinical reseaerch already published showing that smokers can successfully switch to smokeless (switchtosmokeless.com) or switch to snus (switchtosnus.com), while continuing to satisfy their harmless addiction to nicotine, but reducing their health risks by a whopping 98%. You can look it up!

edwards of AZ 3:27PM November 19, 2009

Is the goal of the ACS that no one should smoke ever, under any circumstances? I can tell you that smoking tobacco is an enjoyable experience. I probably smoke as much as I consume chocolate, but I consume far more ketchup than I do tobacco. Why not just give the message of moderation?

Andres of MD 3:26PM November 19, 2009

Smoke pot instead. It won't kill you!!

kang of CA 2:37PM November 19, 2009

I'd rather die than live in Utah again. Was there twice as a child. It's a state completely dominated by a religious cult that believes Coca-Cola will dissolve your stomach. The kids in my class all looked like siblings.
Move to Utah to quit smoking? I'd rather die now.

Richard Posner of OR 2:13PM November 19, 2009

The author misstates findings from UW-CTRI study. To quote from the full-text of that study, "Finally, while there was substantial evidence that the patch plus lozenge was highly efficacious relative to the placebo condition, it is important to note that its 6-month outcome did not differ significantly from the other active cessation treatments in head-to-head comparisons." Keep in mind that placebo isn't a real quitting method. The question is how does the combo compare to the patch or lozenge alone and as stated here there were no significant differences.
What the author fails to mention is that roughly 90% of all long-term successful ex-smokers quit without use of any quitting product. What the author fails to mention is that researchers refuse to pit these products against real cold turkey quitters, as in real-world surveys cold turkey quitters actually do better than pharmacology quitters. Instead, they pit them against quitters who joined the clinical trial hoping to get free replacement nicotine and were instead randomly assigned to receive a placebo. Clinical trials didn't measure product efficacy but placebo group frustrations.
Maybe some day we'll find a journalist who at last starts asking the right questions. Were NRT clinical trials really blind, can you hide the onset or absence of full-blown nicotine withdrawal from a quitter with a lengthy quitting history, a quitter who knows exactly what it feels like? The answer is clearly "no."
Your blood can be 100% nicotine free within 72 hours with peak withdrawal behind you. There's just one rule. If any nicotine enters your bloodstream you have to go back to the starting line and go through detox again. We're just not that strong. There was always only one rule ... no nicotine today! Yes you can!

John R. Polito of SC 2:03PM November 19, 2009

35 years, 1/2 a day. Tried cold turkey several times, no dice. Since hit 50 thought would try again. This time I tried Chantix. So far, 1st time in memory have been smoke-free. Am at my first month. Chantix worked for me. Do get some cravings, but they are not that strong and don't last a long time, just a couple minutes, about 3 times a day. I can manage that. Nor did I have any of the typically side effects, have had trouble getting good nights rest. Toss and turn a lot. Also, I do smoke pot once or twice a day. I have noticed no desire to increase usage, so there's not a trade one for another. Never thought I could go more than 6 hours without a cig...

DeNerd of AR 1:52PM November 19, 2009

After 9 long years of smoking, I have finally quit at the age of 24. What helped me quit smoking was Marijuana. Somehow I feel my "THOUGHTS" won't be added to this article

dronus of CA 1:31PM November 19, 2009

This author completely missed commenting on the most recently drug that most physicians now regard as the standard of care for smoking cessation. This drug of course is Chantix. I clicked on the article hoping to learn something new . No cigar.
Dr Sasse

Dr Sasse of MI 1:26PM November 19, 2009