To quit cigs or not to quit - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

Katie0225 · 09-14-2007, 01:31 PM

I have almost 5 mo. of clean time and really want to quit smoking. Many people in the program told me I shouldn't for multiple reasons. I have quit a few times last up to a year or so. I am on Wellbutrin for depression and it is the same dosage they give people who try to quit smoking. I also would use the patch. Has anyone quit successfully while in early recovery?? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks and have a great day!

Afraid2Succeed · 09-14-2007, 01:38 PM

Hi I quit smoking cigarettes at the same time I quit smoking weed. I'm a grouchy man but other than that, no problems. In fact, I can swim for about 15 minutes without hacking up a lung now!

Some would say cigarettes are the hardest things to quit. That's the tobacco companies putting in addictive chemicals in their smokes, spending millions on advertisements, and paying retarded doctors to suggest smoking doesn't kill. The odds are against you when considering all the BS.

If you feel up to it, I would say why wait? But if you think it would be too stressful, wait awhile until you're more up to it.

Best,
Dave

Chris38 · 09-14-2007, 04:43 PM

Katie, forgive me If I sound sarcastic here...

You want to quit something, that will improve your health. Cigarettes are addictive, and are deadly. And some people in the program are telling you not to quit? I always laughed at the NA folks lecturing me about having wine with steak while thier sucking down 3 or 4 at a time at meetings. Not that I hope it happens, but if cigs cause them lung cancer, then they will truly give second thoughs about the definition of "disease"

I do not know any of your story, I just know that smoking can shorten your life considerably, and it also makes you feel like crap. This is just fact.

Cigs, like any addictive substance can be over come. And again, like any addictive substance, it can be difficult, but you can do it.

I myself never smoked in my entire life, something told me as a kid that firefighters wear protective masks to protect themselves from smoke, yet people do it freely. And most firefighters I knew smoked! What an oddity.

Bottom line, do what you WANT to do and feel what is right. If no real damage is done yet, quitting smoking will improve your life, it's expectancy and as a bonus you will smell better.

Cigarettes contains nicotine, which is an additvive narcotic, its a drug. It's also used as an insecticide to kill insects. Again, fact..check Websters.

I wish you the best of luck, but I really question any program that tells you to keep using a narcotic, especially if the program is NA. (For obvious reasons!)

I've stepped off my soap box, the best thing for you to do is go see a physician, there are many ways to assist in quitting. I'm not saying it will be easy, but the payoff will be great. Besides arent they like 8 bucks a pack? Talk about another payoff if you quit.

- Chris

**Peter** · 09-14-2007, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie0225

I have almost 5 mo. of clean time and really want to quit smoking. Many people in the program told me I shouldn't for multiple reasons.

I don't know what they are telling newcomers at your meeting but the NA meeting I went to gave no such advice.

What I was advised by the oldtimers was that unless I felt certain I could really handle it then I should "quit one addiction at a time" starting with the ones that were causing me the most immediate harm.

I am smoke free now going on 4 years and I can tell you this much. THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL I COULD HAVE GOTTEN CLEAN IF I HAD GIVEN UP MY CIGARETTES AROUND THE SAME TIME I QUIT THE DRUGS.

The support I have gotten from my friends in NA when I finally quit has been tremendous. Some of them even still refuse to smoke around me and I would have to break their arm off before any one of them would give me a cigarette.

I knew I would quit cigarettes one day but for years after I got clean I still required a "crutch" to help me through the stress of adapting to life without hard drugs.

I cannot imagine any rational person at an NA meeting you telling you that you "shouldn't quit for multiple reasons"

Barto · 09-14-2007, 07:23 PM

Quit! (if you can)

leeside · 09-15-2007, 12:40 AM

You'll be cleansing your body of more toxins and by now you probably know that you can appreciate that.

The more you know you can appreciate that the more reason to stop smoking now.

I tapered off using a low tar and nicotine cigarette until I realized I was wasting my money on something I no longer wanted and then I stopped all together.

northbelle · 09-15-2007, 01:03 AM

Keep the cigs..just my opinon!
love north

ccgirl · 09-15-2007, 06:56 AM

Hey North, nice to see you!

I am not a smoker; never have been so my opinion is probably squat. However I've gotta go with Chris on this. My dad was a raging alcoholic,quit, continued smoking and died of lung cancer. In my IOP class our facilitator mentioned Chantix (sp) and said it has been very successful for smoking cessassation.

You didn't mention how your physical part of stopping using is going. If you feel well and confident enough, I'd go for it! If you're not ready,it's like drugs or alcohol;itwon't work. But I think you know for health reason what you need to do at some point anyway. Good luck!

Barto · 09-15-2007, 10:17 AM

I quit early on and I haven’t looked back. I too can swim now without coughing up a lung. Good to read someone who really knows what that felt like. I couldn't believe the difference in my ability to do things after quitting.

2ala2 · 09-15-2007, 10:59 AM

Hi Katie,
I'm almost 7 months clean and I have quit caffeine and cigarettes c/t for 3 days now.
I say give it a shot.
I almost picked up a smoke last nite..

Barto · 09-15-2007, 11:09 AM

Hey ala,

I bet you’ll see a tremendous difference in the lessening of your benzo W/D symptoms now. At least I think I did. Good luck.

Jane63 · 09-15-2007, 11:26 AM

Good thread Katie!
Well, here's my 2-cents...At 5-months you are still pretty early on in your recovery and it might be too stressful for you at the moment to have something else to focus on quitting...Not to mention the WDs you will probably go through.

JMHO, I would wait another couple of months till you feel the time is right for you to give quitting a try AND use as many of the resources available as you possibly can!

"Chantix" is a new, non-addictive smoking cessation med that has a wonderful track record so you might also want to ask your DR about it.

Also, there is a Smoking Cessation forum here with LOTS of helpful people and advice!
Good luck in whatever you decide!
Jane

ccgirl · 09-15-2007, 07:25 PM

Oh, my ala, you are quite the determined one aren't you? Go for it and good luck!

09-14-2007, 01:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
Katie0225 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 8	To quit cigs or not to quit I have almost 5 mo. of clean time and really want to quit smoking. Many people in the program told me I shouldn't for multiple reasons. I have quit a few times last up to a year or so. I am on Wellbutrin for depression and it is the same dosage they give people who try to quit smoking. I also would use the patch. Has anyone quit successfully while in early recovery?? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks and have a great day!

09-15-2007, 12:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
leeside outtahere Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 521	You'll be cleansing your body of more toxins and by now you probably know that you can appreciate that. The more you know you can appreciate that the more reason to stop smoking now. I tapered off using a low tar and nicotine cigarette until I realized I was wasting my money on something I no longer wanted and then I stopped all together. __________________ Someone here said I said something I didn't say and I am not allowed to show it is not something I said, so I wont be posting on SR anymore.

09-15-2007, 10:17 AM	#9 (permalink)
Barto Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Righthere, Rightnow Posts: 1,497	I missed your second question. I quit early on and I haven’t looked back. I too can swim now without coughing up a lung. Good to read someone who really knows what that felt like. I couldn't believe the difference in my ability to do things after quitting.

09-15-2007, 11:26 AM	#12 (permalink)
Jane63 Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,141 Blog Entries: 8	Good thread Katie! Well, here's my 2-cents...At 5-months you are still pretty early on in your recovery and it might be too stressful for you at the moment to have something else to focus on quitting...Not to mention the WDs you will probably go through. JMHO, I would wait another couple of months till you feel the time is right for you to give quitting a try AND use as many of the resources available as you possibly can! "Chantix" is a new, non-addictive smoking cessation med that has a wonderful track record so you might also want to ask your DR about it. Also, there is a Smoking Cessation forum here with LOTS of helpful people and advice! Good luck in whatever you decide! Jane __________________ ~Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops... at all.~ Emily Dickinson Rest In Peace My Sweet Sammy...2-24-08

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09-14-2007, 01:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
Afraid2Succeed Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: media, pa Posts: 243	Hi I quit smoking cigarettes at the same time I quit smoking weed. I'm a grouchy man but other than that, no problems. In fact, I can swim for about 15 minutes without hacking up a lung now! Some would say cigarettes are the hardest things to quit. That's the tobacco companies putting in addictive chemicals in their smokes, spending millions on advertisements, and paying retarded doctors to suggest smoking doesn't kill. The odds are against you when considering all the BS. If you feel up to it, I would say why wait? But if you think it would be too stressful, wait awhile until you're more up to it. Best, Dave

09-14-2007, 04:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
Chris38 Chris38NYC Join Date: May 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 152	Katie, forgive me If I sound sarcastic here... You want to quit something, that will improve your health. Cigarettes are addictive, and are deadly. And some people in the program are telling you not to quit? I always laughed at the NA folks lecturing me about having wine with steak while thier sucking down 3 or 4 at a time at meetings. Not that I hope it happens, but if cigs cause them lung cancer, then they will truly give second thoughs about the definition of "disease" I do not know any of your story, I just know that smoking can shorten your life considerably, and it also makes you feel like crap. This is just fact. Cigs, like any addictive substance can be over come. And again, like any addictive substance, it can be difficult, but you can do it. I myself never smoked in my entire life, something told me as a kid that firefighters wear protective masks to protect themselves from smoke, yet people do it freely. And most firefighters I knew smoked! What an oddity. Bottom line, do what you WANT to do and feel what is right. If no real damage is done yet, quitting smoking will improve your life, it's expectancy and as a bonus you will smell better. Cigarettes contains nicotine, which is an additvive narcotic, its a drug. It's also used as an insecticide to kill insects. Again, fact..check Websters. I wish you the best of luck, but I really question any program that tells you to keep using a narcotic, especially if the program is NA. (For obvious reasons!) I've stepped off my soap box, the best thing for you to do is go see a physician, there are many ways to assist in quitting. I'm not saying it will be easy, but the payoff will be great. Besides arent they like 8 bucks a pack? Talk about another payoff if you quit. - Chris

09-14-2007, 07:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
Barto Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Righthere, Rightnow Posts: 1,497	Quit! (if you can)

09-15-2007, 01:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
northbelle Dopeless Hope Fiend Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: anchorage Alaska Posts: 2,503	Keep the cigs..just my opinon! love north

09-15-2007, 06:56 AM	#8 (permalink)
ccgirl Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Harwich, MA Posts: 2,749	Hey North, nice to see you! I am not a smoker; never have been so my opinion is probably squat. However I've gotta go with Chris on this. My dad was a raging alcoholic,quit, continued smoking and died of lung cancer. In my IOP class our facilitator mentioned Chantix (sp) and said it has been very successful for smoking cessassation. You didn't mention how your physical part of stopping using is going. If you feel well and confident enough, I'd go for it! If you're not ready,it's like drugs or alcohol;itwon't work. But I think you know for health reason what you need to do at some point anyway. Good luck!

09-15-2007, 10:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
2ala2 Lost-n-Found Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Cairo Posts: 917	Hi Katie, I'm almost 7 months clean and I have quit caffeine and cigarettes c/t for 3 days now. I say give it a shot. I almost picked up a smoke last nite..

09-15-2007, 11:09 AM	#11 (permalink)
Barto Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Righthere, Rightnow Posts: 1,497	Hey ala, I bet you’ll see a tremendous difference in the lessening of your benzo W/D symptoms now. At least I think I did. Good luck.

09-15-2007, 07:25 PM	#13 (permalink)
ccgirl Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Harwich, MA Posts: 2,749	Oh, my ala, you are quite the determined one aren't you? Go for it and good luck!

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