Comments on: Struggling With Alcohol? Better Quit Smoking, Too

By: Women Cigarettes

Women Cigarettes — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 03:19:46 +0000

There are many reasons why a woman starts to smoke cigarettes and it is society what has made it really common for us to see woman smoking everywhere, but there are benefits of smoking, and Women smoking cigarettes look better to the eyes of some men

By: Lee

Lee — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:42:00 +0000

After 11 atempts to quit smoking, I was finally successful in January 1985. Realizing how much better I felt, I then had the courage to take a look at my drinking and other substance abusing behaviors and quit them all in January 1987. I have known many smoking recovering addicts and alcoholics that have struggled to quit smoking several years into recovery. I have listened to their stories in smoking cessation workshops that I facilitated. I was glad that I quit smoking before I quit drinking, as I am not so sure I would have been successful had it been the other way around. Many individuals cling to cigarettes as their “only” vice or pleasure. I have watched one sober friend struggle for breath as his oxygen saturation levels
dipped as he lay dying of lung cancer. Another sober diabetic friend was finally free of all substances but tobacco – which she could not give up even while doctors progressively amputated toes, ankles feet and limbs. This article gives me new hope that those seeking recovery from alcohol, tobacco and other drugs can do it “all at once” and better enjoy a full recovery and a return of healthy brain function. And for those in substance abuse treatment settings – why shouldn’t they be supported to quit all drugs at once?

By: Lois

Lois — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:12:47 +0000

Hi Dave,
I, too have been sober a long time (21 years) and received the same advice in treatment…to wait to quit smoking. So I did wait for 2 years. I am smoke-free for 19 years now. It was the best thing I ever did besides giving up drugs and alcohol. I work in the field of tobacco addiction and help people to quit smoking every day. I am writing to you to let you know that it is possible to quit and based on new research, it will help you maintain your sobriety (not the other way around). Don’t worry about what did or didn’t happen back then, just make the decision now to quit. I believe it took every cigarette to get you here and that’s a good thing. Check out nicotine anonymous and/or your local health department…you don’t have to do this alone!

By: Jodie Ragatz

Jodie Ragatz — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:50:40 +0000

I drank 6 to 10 beers a day and smoked. I gave them both up 1994 with the help {and nagging!} of my boyfriend. Fourteen years later, I do not miss either one.

By: David Eugene

David Eugene — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 02:59:59 +0000

This is a good article. I’ve been a sober alcoholic for quite some time now. Went I initially went to rehab I told the intake counselor I wanted to quit smoking too. They recommended against it and said “Once you have two years sobriety, then take steps to quit smoking. Let’s tackle the biggest problem first.”

I still smoke as I’m addicted to nicotine. I know I need to quit (like yesterday). I wonder how things would have turned out if I would have tried to kick alcohol and nicotine simultaneously.

Dave
ReasonsToStaySober.com