Published Tuesday, January 08, 2008 8:30 AM
Updated Tuesday, January 08, 2008 8:30 AM

 

Still smoking yourself to death

Although chemical dependency upon smoking nicotine remains our areas leading cause of preventable death, New Year's is by far the biggest quitting day of the year. Statistically, at least 823 Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester smokers will be claimed by their addiction during 2008, each an average of 15.3 years early. For some there's still time but their window of opportunity is closing.

The CDC asserts that about half of adult smokers are smoking themselves to death. Data show that it isn't that they don't want to quit or aren't trying. It's that, while there was still time they failed to discover how to quit, but more importantly, how to stay quit. Ask yourself this, what learning takes place by slapping on a patch, chewing gum, sucking a lozenge, swallowing a pill, being hypnotized or stuck with needles?

Knowledge truly is a quitting method. Our greatest weapon against this powerful chemical - a chemical that cannot think - has always been our intelligence, but only if put to work. Imagine understanding the recovery process and no longer being afraid.  Imagine actually being excited about it, and seeing each quitting crave episode as an opportunity to extinguish another smoking cue, and reclaim another slice of life.

The third annual New Year's presentation of "Freedom from Nicotine" will again be held in the Charleston Main Library auditorium at 68 Calhoun Street on Sunday, Dec. 30, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

It's free, no registration, nothing being sold, all donations declined, and no one will make you feel badly. What you will receive is understanding and a detailed roadmap home, to a mind that increasingly appreciates the amazing beauty of once again engaging life as "you."

We invite you to give knowledge a try. For more information visit www.whyquit.com/charleston or call 849-9721.

Polito is a former Summerville resident and founder of whyquit.com. He resides in Mt. Pleasant.