As a former tobacco user, I know how hard it is to get that nicotine monkey off your back.
I was introduced to smokeless tobacco in 9th grade and developed a hard core habit that would last for 25 years. Experts suggest that using 2 cans a week is equal to smoking 1.5 packs of cigarettes a day in regards to nicotine intake.
I was using about 1.5 cans a DAY! I was addicted to nicotine in such a strong way that I couldn't quit on my own. I needed a strong weapon to slay the nicotine monsters that had me in their grips.
In January of 2007, I talked with my dentist and decided to quit. He prescribed
a drug called
Wellbutrin. I was able to quit and break free of the
physical addiction of nicotine. In May of 2007, I received orders to go to Iraq for a year and the stress levels skyrocketed. I fell off the wagon and started back. That was the
psychological addiction that is much harder to break.
Finally, in April of 2009 I decided to give it another shot and talked with my dentist again. This time he prescribed
Chantix and again
I was able to kick the habit and haven't touched that deadly poison since April 21, 2009. Both medications worked for me. It was my fault that I fell off the wagon the first time.
If you smoke or chew, you need to quit! If you can quit cold turkey, pick a date in the near future and commit to it and do it.
When you first decide to give up nicotine, you can't even imagine living in a world where you don't have your vice. That's your mind playing tricks because of the powerful effects of the drug. If you're addicted very strongly, (you are if you can't quit on your own) I recommend that you talk to your family doctor or dentist and ask about the medications on the market that assist you in this great effort. Sure, there are side effects and tough times ahead,
but none of the side effects that I dealt with were worse than cancer. Now, I'm tobacco free!