Next Stop - Quitters, Inc?

Next Stop - Quitters, Inc?

by Serendipitous | Published on January 8th, 2008, 8:53 am | Life

Anyone in the Greensboring community who has successfully quit smoking via NRT (nicotine replacement therapy)? More specifically, has anyone used Commit Lozenges to quit? And if you have, did you have trouble weaning yourself from the lozenges at the end of the 12-weeks (or however long you did it)?

Compared to previous quit attempts, I have done really well with the lozenges. It's probably less about the lozenges and more about the attitude because this time I am saying "I quit smoking" instead of "I'm trying to quit smoking."

If you've seen Stephen King's Cat's Eye, then you KNOW what Quitter's Inc is all about. I am pretty sure I can "stay quit" without having to resort to scare tactics.

Sorry I can't help on this. I smoked only once in my life -- when I was 4 years old. That first puff was enough to keep me away from that addiction for the rest of my life.

SouthernFriedInfidel wrote:Sorry I can't help on this. I smoked only once in my life -- when I was 4 years old. That first puff was enough to keep me away from that addiction for the rest of my life.

Lucky!

My friend's mom gave her a drag of a cigarette when my friend was very young and it had the same affect. She never smoked cigarettes (or anything else for that matter)! :mrgreen:

If you have successfully quit smoking by a method other than NRT or if you know of any methods that aren't worth trying, feel free to post here.

Anybody else who is currently quitting smoking?

I too have never smoked. But I'll give you my opinion anyway

I have helped some good friends to quite. Addiction to nicotine lozenges/gum is often raised as a concern, but I think it's not an issue because even if you become addicted to them you are still far better off chewing nicotine gum/lozenges than smoking. The most important step to quitting is changing habits and once you have displaced the social habit weaning off the nicotine is a lot easier. What's really bad is taking the gum and continuing to smoke!

However my experience is that aids don't actually help people quit. Looking at my friends, it took some serious personal motivation (diabetes in one case and the death of a father from lung cancer in another) and then the aids were irrelevant.

Studies have shownthat nicotine replacement (actually almost any program) is not as effective as a good motivation.

Okay... Yes I've quit about 9 months ago.... but I'm thinking about re-starting after today...

Anyhow, I've tried gum, patches, etc... none of them worked....

What you need to do is find a "non-nicotine" replacement smoking instrument. This was the only way I quit. I was still able to smoke and relax, but without the nicotine which was the addictive part. Eventually, I wasn't addicted so I only smoked the "non-nicotine" stuff when I was stressed... and now I haven't smoked anything in 6 months.

Depending on how you feel about it, I recommend you find a non-nicotine product that contains Salvina Divinorum. It's a mild sedative, that is harsh, and makes you hungry, but very good at relaxing. You can get an ounce of it through the mail for about $30.00....

It's really simple... Just smoke them like you would a normal cig (you need to learn to roll them, if you're a junior toker) and eventually the habit diminishes on its own since, it's not addictive....

You should be able to find the stuff locally at a indian smoke shop "just ask for Sally D" or online... I got mine from some place in Fort Mohave, Arizona.

I would probably stay away from salvia... some people have really awful trips on it and it can be a horrendous hallucinogenic for some. I quit about seven years ago. I marked it on a calender and just did it. I really wanted it and when I felt the need to smoke I thought of this really gross old jersey lady who probably smoked her whole life who was a wrinkly and icky sounding. Because I'm totally vain (or was, although I still hate the idea of wrinkles) it worked. Delve in deep and figure out why you want to quit smoking. If it's because you want to live to see grandchildren or because you want to avoid nasty wrinkles, or even because it's making you broke, then visualize that when you feel the need, and never underestimate the power of distraction. I took up bike riding. It was great for my lungs and for my figure- and it's tough to smoke on a bike! I also put the money away and bought meself a car, my first, so that was a nice reward for quitting!

A Person wrote:I too have never smoked. But I'll give you my opinion anyway

'Tis expected and welcome. :wink:

A Person wrote:I have helped some good friends to quite. Addiction to nicotine lozenges/gum is often raised as a concern, but I think it's not an issue because even if you become addicted to them you are still far better off chewing nicotine gum/lozenges than smoking. The most important step to quitting is changing habits and once you have displaced the social habit weaning off the nicotine is a lot easier. What's really bad is taking the gum and continuing to smoke!

Mad props to you for helping friends to quit... and you're alive to tell about it! LOL

A lot of associations that I have had to break, which includes being a social smoker, have been easier to break than I thought they'd be. However, some of the "triggers" such stress can still be triggers, though not everything that was "reason to smoke" is prompting me to crave a cigarette like it used to.

A Person wrote:However my experience is that aids don't actually help people quit. Looking at my friends, it took some serious personal motivation (diabetes in one case and the death of a father from lung cancer in another) and then the aids were irrelevant.

Studies have shownthat nicotine replacement (actually almost any program) is not as effective as a good motivation.

I've done better at quitting with NRT lozenges than going cold turkey. I couldn't make it past a few days when I went cold turkey. But you're right - motivation is necessary as is the commitment to quitting. Yesterday I had to regain focus, eyes on the prize if you will.

The Commit website has been really helpful for me this time. It offers online support, tracking, tools, and so on. Do I sound like a salesperson? LOL

For me personally, getting through quitting is a lot more pleasant with NRT. It's probably more pleasant for those closest to me as well. :mrgreen:

Liv wrote:Okay... Yes I've quit about 9 months ago.... but I'm thinking about re-starting after today...

No! Don't restart! Go chant whatever mantra works for you... go for a walk... or meet me somewhere and I'll smack the hell outta you for thinking about restarting! :mrgreen:

Liv wrote:Anyhow, I've tried gum, patches, etc... none of them worked....

What you need to do is find a "non-nicotine" replacement smoking instrument. This was the only way I quit. I was still able to smoke and relax, but without the nicotine which was the addictive part. Eventually, I wasn't addicted so I only smoked the "non-nicotine" stuff when I was stressed... and now I haven't smoked anything in 6 months.

Keep going and make it 7 months!!!

Liv wrote:Depending on how you feel about it, I recommend you find a non-nicotine product that contains Salvina Divinorum. It's a mild sedative, that is harsh, and makes you hungry, but very good at relaxing. You can get an ounce of it through the mail for about $30.00....

I don't want to smoke anything anymore, and I'd rather stay away from anything that gives me the munchies even if it is legal. And if salvia divinorum is the stuff that's been getting attention for its comparison to LSD, I prolly shouldn't take something quite so "trippin'-dicular' to quit smoking. That just sounds like fun that's not yet been made illegal! :twisted:

sheilajane wrote:Delve in deep and figure out why you want to quit smoking. If it's because you want to live to see grandchildren or because you want to avoid nasty wrinkles, or even because it's making you broke, then visualize that when you feel the need, and never underestimate the power of distraction. I took up bike riding. It was great for my lungs and for my figure- and it's tough to smoke on a bike! I also put the money away and bought meself a car, my first, so that was a nice reward for quitting!

I wrote down my reasons for quitting and have to go back and read those whenever I'm losing focus. Staying busy definitely keeps me from smoking (though I'm sure I could figure out a way to smoke on a bike...and end up with burns or at least ashes all over me) :wink:

Saving money is a HUGE incentive for me... but I've made no plans for the $ that is no longer going towards smoking. I'm just trying to get through each day.

sheilajane wrote:I would probably stay away from salvia... some people have really awful trips on it and it can be a horrendous hallucinogenic for some.

And what was the reason to stay away again? :wink:

Both my parents quit smoking years ago. One for a lifestyle choice and the other from a health scare. Growing up around it, I now get (sometimes severe) headaches when I come in contact with certain smoking areas. Of course that's nothing compared to when I come across someone trying to quit smoking.. the headaches they give me are MUCH worse!

Seriously, best of luck to ya, take it one day at a time.

I've seen the stuff about Salvina being a psychoactive, and can tell you if you order it as "legal weed" so to speak it's nothing of the sort. It's more like smoke potpourri except it increases your senses, just slightly. If you get the "extract" and smoke high concentrations, it can be very narcotic like... but the bottom line is that it works. If you can quit other ways, then "Great"... but for me it didn't work, and I needed to smoke something until the addiction was gone....

Sanjuro wrote:Both my parents quit smoking years ago. One for a lifestyle choice and the other from a health scare. Growing up around it, I now get (sometimes severe) headaches when I come in contact with certain smoking areas. Of course that's nothing compared to when I come across someone trying to quit smoking.. the headaches they give me are MUCH worse!

Yeah, those damn quitters with their nicotine fits, running around making everyone miserable! :mrgreen:

Of course, that's only temporary... except for the the people who were already giving you headaches to begin with!

Sanjuro wrote:Seriously, best of luck to ya, take it one day at a time.

Thanks for the encouragement. I have to take everything moment-to-moment just to get through one day at a time!

Liv wrote:I've seen the stuff about Salvina being a psychoactive, and can tell you if you order it as "legal weed" so to speak it's nothing of the sort. It's more like smoke potpourri except it increases your senses, just slightly. If you get the "extract" and smoke high concentrations, it can be very narcotic like... but the bottom line is that it works. If you can quit other ways, then "Great"... but for me it didn't work, and I needed to smoke something until the addiction was gone....

I'm glad you found what worked for you! Didja make it through yesterday?

I'm glad you found what worked for you! Didja make it through yesterday?

Yes. Surprisingly. I'm currently on memo for "just laughing at a memo". which subsequently resulted in another memo, because you get a memo when you get more than X memos. Besides that and the constant yelling of people who lost their packages because we changed our packaging methods...

I made it.

At one point I was in the office with the boss, and I blatantly asked "Am I going home today?"

I mean.... I'm getting advice from management to reduce wrap (the time following each call), to which I say, ok.... how do I do that and still service the customer.... The answer "Maybe you're coming out of wrap to quick and it's not registering."

I even reiterated what she just said "So your saying, I should reduce my wrap, by taking more wrap?"

Literally... It's the most irrational, unbelievable workplace in the world. Every one is "so--o-o-o scared" to lose their jobs they're actually believing and making up stuff that makes no sense. It's like talking to a 3 year old about quantum physics. They'll just reinforcing Santa and the easter bunny.

But... Yeah I made it...

Had a Guinness when I got home though...

So I guess it's not a good idea to talk to a phone rep about the weather, huh? :mrgreen:

Liv wrote:But... Yeah I made it...

Had a Guinness when I got home though...

Mmmm ... Guinness is Goodness!

If only alcohol at work wasn't prohibited: "That meeting was ridiculous! I'm going to the break room to do some shots now!"

BecauseHeLives wrote:So I guess it's not a good idea to talk to a phone rep about the weather, huh?

We're alowed to take as long as we want "on the call"... it's just the time after you disconnect they don't like us mucking around.

Serendipitous wrote:
Mmmm ... Guinness is Goodness!

According to my boss, we can't drink at home or we'd be fired. (j/k.... actually it's probably coming)

We're alowed to take as long as we want "on the call"... it's just the time after you disconnect they don't like us mucking around.

Goodness. What do they EXPECT you to do?

Liv wrote:
Serendipitous wrote:
Mmmm ... Guinness is Goodness!

According to my boss, we can't drink at home or we'd be fired. (j/k.... actually it's probably coming)

The way my company's policy is worded, one of my former bosses was interpretting it as that (can't drink at home). :roll:

Not that she would have sent any of us to HR... she would've had to turn herself in too!

I'm aware of people here at work that have been known to keep a few "bottles" in their desks. Before you ask... No. It's not me.

BecauseHeLives wrote:I'm aware of people here at work that have been known to keep a few "bottles" in their desks. Before you ask... No. It's not me.

That's your story, and you're sticking to it, eh? :wink:

I can tell you this... it was much easier to deal with customers when I was taking crap loads of Vicodin from my sciatica... This whole sober work day is a tad bit annoying.

Serendipitous wrote:
BecauseHeLives wrote:I'm aware of people here at work that have been known to keep a few "bottles" in their desks. Before you ask... No. It's not me.

That's your story, and you're sticking to it, eh?

Yup.

N.C. Scores Nearly All F's in New Anti-Smoking Report

Posted: Today at 9:35 a.m.
Updated: Today at 12:31 p.m.

Raleigh — North Carolina scored nearly all F's in the American Lung Association's new report on anti-smoking initiatives.

The 2007 State of Tobacco Control report released Thursday flunked the state for its low cigarette tax of 35 cents a pack, which is the seventh-lowest tax in the country.

North Carolina also received an F for spending on tobacco-control programs. The almost $19 million the state plans to spend this fiscal year is less than half recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

North Carolina also got an F for its smoke-free-air legislation. Although smoking is banned in state government buildings, there isn't a ban for private workplaces.

The state was also penalized for not allowing cities, towns and counties to pass smoke-free ordinances stricter than state law.

The state scored a C for its laws restricting youth access to tobacco.