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    Quitting Stories—What Would You Do?

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    wife, husband and two children with realtor in front of a for sale sign with sold on it
    Betty's Story

    I’ve smoked since I was 13 years old. At least a pack a day for over 30 years. I’ve tried to quit a bunch of times. I’d usually just quit cold turkey for a day or two, and then I’d have to start up again because I would be too cranky with my kids or to do my realtor job. (learn more)…

    man working in wood workshop
    Daniel's Story

    I started smoking because my older sister used to share her cigarettes with me. I usually smoke less than a pack a day, but now I really want to stop. I kind of enjoyed smoking during my party days, and it was pretty easy to keep smoking on my outdoor construction jobs. But cigarettes don’t fit with my life anymore. (learn more)…

    Each of these stories is based on common experiences of people who smoke and try to quit. The names and particulars of the situations are fictional.
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    Learn More About Quit-Smoking Medicines

    Page last reviewed: January 7, 2022
    Content source: Smokefree.gov, Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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