since tweety, marla, silverdragon102, thecommuter, and arwen_u, my co-staff, bared their hearts...i can do no less. my first smoke, or taste, was when i was in the first grade...by my alcoholic stepfather. i began smoking as a habit since my sixth grade...allowed to smoke openly in the house during my 8th grade. everyone in my family smoked. in my family, being of appalachian descent, smoking never batted an eye. folks who did not smoke were more of the exception to the rule. it was a way of life...if not a rite of passage...like getting one's driver's license. i have quit many a times and started back up many a times during my life. my biggest run of sobriety was for 6 years, but i ended up falling off the wagon, er...cigarette truck due to stress...it's in my bio story (bio link). personally, i love to smoke...but i know as a nurse that it is not good for me. i hate the way my clothes and apartment smells when i do. i hate the amount of monies wasted on it. cancer in our family is unheard of, on either side...so the fear of cancer never ever came to me as a concern....and they all smoked like chimneys, living to their elder days. good genes, i guess. i don't deny the risk of cancer...but, it doesn't seem real to me growing up in the family i did. cold turkey was the best way for me many times. i even tried chantix once....which was very helpful then. something that i may again try real soon....for the withdrawals (very real) were nonexistant for me. i look forward to reading others' successes, as well as their struggles, with smoking and other addictions. it gives hope. unless one has been hooked on a substance, it makes it hard to be empathetic to one who is...i know this...so i try to be patient and understanding to those who do not know/have experienced it for themselves.
yes...i will think about the chantix once again. maybe it is time once more.
Yes they were free it's part of a state program called NY quits. Basically anyone living in the state of NY can call and get a 6 week supply of patches, gum, or lozenges.
1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487)
The New York State Smokers' Quitline offers:
* FREE starter kit of Nicotine Patches, Gum or Lozenges for eligible NYS smokers
* Trained Quitline Specialists offering help with quit plans
* Information about local stop smoking programs
* Informational taped messages
I was only a half pack a day smoker so I couldn't use the strongest patches and I would get nightmares if I didn't take it off before bed. Maybe the lozenge or gum would work better for you?
Loricatus, ty for sharing those commercials with us. I NEVER knew it was ever like that. Boy, what I wouldn't give to grow up in that era. I actually bought my first pack of Pall Mall's yesterday because they were the cheapest brand at the store! And to my surprise they tasted pretty good.
I read the post about the person dialing 311 and got the patch in the BX.............were those free? Do other states have a free patch handout? I may consider that angle, for free. The only reason I haven't tried the patch is because the highest dose is only 21mg per patch. Isn't there about 1mg per cig? My case like that other poster, I would be covered in them patches!!:chuckle
Atheos
2,098 Posts
Nevermind... Google video doesn't seem to work...