i started smoking when i was 13. im going to be 20 in september and have used the patch 5 times to qut. so on top of all of the money i have spent smoking cigarettes, i also spent an estimated $180 for the 2 month patch plan which fell through everytime due to no self motivation.so ive spent now an estimated extra $900 in patches to quit total. i am now on the patch again and ready more than ever! im only 19 and have struggled all of these years already to quit! i attend a Paul Mitchell Hairdressing school and salon reality is that when your booked all day, there is NO time for a cig break, so its time to quit with graduation a cpl months down the road. its been 5 days now since i quit or started the patch. i can breath better, when i wear cologne i can actually smell it 2 hours later, my car doesnt have ash all on the dash bord and car matt's. i can stay home more often now instead of worrying about leaving for a supposid coffee to have a marlboro menthol 100 light...my ex best friend. its hard but you know what, its been 5 days, and im ready for the gym again and more positive things that cig's have tied me down to. and plus, i wana live as long as possible like everyone else, so why would i wana cut that down due to a stupid cancer stick/life shortener. so if i have any advice for ppl who cant quit cold turkey, its you dont have to! do the patch, its a 2 month process and when its done, your free from nicotine. ill finally be free, i cant wait .

shearsdesignmylife | Wed Aug 18 22:54:42 +0000 2010 | Report Abuse

My entire family smoked. Mother, father, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Everyone had a habit of lighting up. I didn't want to, not since I was little. I knew it ws disgusting,it smelled, the smoke choked me, and the education against smoking was just picked up. As a child I had already become a mini-criminal; I'd steal packs of cigs and crush them up. I'm 19 now, don't smoke, and have yelled, guilt-tripped, and scared the crap out of my family. My father, mother, and all of my grandparents have quit. It's the greates feeling knowing you gave them life.

Becca | Mon Jul 12 22:39:26 +0000 2010 | Report Abuse

my name is jessica and my dad smokes. i tell him there is second hand smoking but he dose not believe me. he use to smoke in the car with me but when i got sick the doctor told him he cant do that anymore. now he only smokes when im not in the car with him. i feel like i can he because i stopped my grandfather from smoking and i want to do the same with my dad. but he wont listen. i wish he would

jesse | Sun Jun 27 03:03:53 +0000 2010 | Report Abuse

I guess I'd just say, "Don't start!" I just graduated from high school an am preparing to go to college this fall. Most people--including my parents--don't even know I smoke (except some of my close friends). I've only been smoking for a year--I tried it just to see what it was like thinking I could stop before I got addicted--but I've tried to quit and so far I haven't been able to. It's not like I smoke a lot, but still it's hard. Don't start is my advice

Dani | Tue Jun 08 01:18:33 +0000 2010 | Report Abuse

I lost my father to lung cancer on April 28, 2010. He suffered horribly towards the end of his life. He had been smoking since he was about 10 years old. He was 63 when he died. Smoking cut about 20 years off of his life...

Mike | Wed Jun 02 23:33:26 +0000 2010 | Report Abuse

When I was born, my parents decided to stop smoking. The only reason why they were able to quit was because of having children. My uncle, who never had something like that to motivate him, continued to smoke and was later diagnosed with lung cancer. Quitting is extremely difficult - which is why it's important to never start in the first place.

rew | Wed Jun 02 15:11:58 +0000 2010 | Report Abuse

My name is Jessica and I have two parents that both smoke and drink. My biggest fear is that they will die from it, despite everything they know about the habits and what they can do to shorten. I want my parents to be at my wedding. Cigarettes might just keep them from that. For that reason, I will never touch a cigarette or any drug like it in my life.

Jessica | Wed Apr 21 03:41:02 +0000 2010 | Report Abuse

Both of my parents have been smokers ever since I was born. My mother has always been a steady smoker, while my father has quit off and on (but he always began smoking again). They both know it's a bad and lethal habit, and they always say they're going to quit, but I know it's a feeble lie. I've tried everything to get them to stop, but to no avail. Our house and family vehicles always smell of stale smoke and ashes. Day after day, they go to the package store to buy a pack or two. It's saddening and disgusting. The best I can do is constantly remind them of how bad a choice it is, and to remind my younger sisters never to start, no matter how "cool" their friends may tell them it is.

Ashley | Mon Apr 05 04:55:38 +0000 2010 | Report Abuse

I know so many kids in my grade that smoke that it's scary. Still, I never thought I would cross paths with anyone who was actually taking part in that kind of thing...One night when I was at a party and there was this whole group of kids smoking on the porch. I couldn't believe that all of these kids that I considered FRIENDS were doing this. One of them I had just had a conversation with a few days ago about how stupid I thought smoking was...he was doing it anyway. When I saw them I just stared for a while I was so shocked. When he saw me staring he actually looked really embarrassed. I don't know if it's what I said a few days ago or not, but when I came back he was sitting inside with some other kids on the couch...I haven't seen him smoke sense.

Annie | Sat Apr 03 03:37:04 +0000 2010 | Report Abuse