From the Editor's Desk...
By: Gwynn Bradley
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: Opinion/Editorial
It's sad, but that's addiction for you.
With me, what ultimately led to my decision to quit were the effects on my own life.
I struggled to breathe when I climbed a flight of stairs. If I climbed any more, I needed to take breaks, and just like each morning, would cough for minute or so.
If I couldn't find my lighter, I would tear apart the entire apartment in a rage, unable to focus on anything else.
I calculated driving time by how many cigarettes I could smoke between point A and point B.
If I wanted a cigarette in the dead of night in winter, I would get out of bed, bundle up and huddle in a corner outside to protect myself from the wind just for five minutes.
Finally, I found a good website, becomeanex.org. Maybe it's because former smokers designed it, but this site was the first that didn't try to guilt it out of me.
The site helped me devise a plan to quit smoking - they suggested practicing quitting - and helped me choose what nicotine replacement therapy - gum, lozenge, patch, etc. - I should use.
Nicotine replacement really helped me, and studies have shown doubling up on products dramatically increases success rate.
Now that's the type of statistic that would be helpful on a sign.
With me, what ultimately led to my decision to quit were the effects on my own life.
I struggled to breathe when I climbed a flight of stairs. If I climbed any more, I needed to take breaks, and just like each morning, would cough for minute or so.
If I couldn't find my lighter, I would tear apart the entire apartment in a rage, unable to focus on anything else.
I calculated driving time by how many cigarettes I could smoke between point A and point B.
If I wanted a cigarette in the dead of night in winter, I would get out of bed, bundle up and huddle in a corner outside to protect myself from the wind just for five minutes.
Finally, I found a good website, becomeanex.org. Maybe it's because former smokers designed it, but this site was the first that didn't try to guilt it out of me.
The site helped me devise a plan to quit smoking - they suggested practicing quitting - and helped me choose what nicotine replacement therapy - gum, lozenge, patch, etc. - I should use.
Nicotine replacement really helped me, and studies have shown doubling up on products dramatically increases success rate.
Now that's the type of statistic that would be helpful on a sign.