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When a friend of mine moved from a South - American country to Canada, he announced within a month, "Cigarettes are just too expensive here! I'm quitting smoking". I figured, "Like he's gonna last, he's used to a pack a day!" My mistake. It's been three years now and he hasn't touched a cigarette since and he claims he doesn't miss it or feel any cravings.

Not everybody is that lucky. Around eighty percent of people who stop smoking start again within a year. It sounds depressing, but many of these people feel reassured that they were able to quit, be it only for a few months and will try again soon. Most smokers will need up to four tries before they can kick the habit for good.

Some physicians or people who consider themselves experts on smoking will argue that external aids are not necessary to quit. These experts, who sometimes believe that they know it all because they used to smoke themselves, forget that each person is different. Some people can quit purely on a strong will, but many need the support, be it psychological or physical, that nicotine replacement therapy offers.

What the nicotine replacements do is supply the body with nicotine without consuming the other poisonous chemicals contained in cigarettes. Therefore, the person doesn't have to deal with the physical withdrawal symptoms that may occur during the quitting process. Let's not forget that nicotine is a drug, it's actually one of the most addictive ones. It will get you on the hook really fast. Therefore, when the body gets rid of the toxins accumulated from smoking, you will experience withdrawal symptoms as with any other drug, though the symptoms themselves will vary.

Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms are headaches, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion and sore throats. These will last only a few days to a week, but if they bother you a lot, take over the counter medication for them. Some other symptoms include insomnia, irritability and fatigue. These are directs results of the chemicals leaving your body and should last anywhere between one to three weeks.

If you search on the internet, you will find an almost infinite number of products that will (supposedly) help you quit smoking. The most widely used aids are still nicotine gum, such as Nicorette and patches, such as NicoDerm. The gums supply your body with nicotine to help control the cravings. As weeks go by, you lower the dose of nicotine until your body is gradually weaned off nicotine. The estimated time for this to happen is about 12 weeks.

With the patch, it's about the same process. The membrane that is next to your skin releases nicotine into your system. As with Nicorette, you start with a stronger dose and gradually cut down. It takes about the same time as Nicorette.

I should mention that you have an even greater chance at success if you use the aid with some sort of support system. For some it's enough to be reading self-help books on smoking, but others need support groups. With modern technology, you can find many of these online too, in chat rooms.

If you're not blessed with an iron will and determination, but would like to kick the habit, don't be afraid to go with some form of nicotine replacement therapy. After all, what have you got to lose?

Michael Russell Your Independent Stop Smoking guide.