This post has been sponsored by Nicorette®. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Do you know someone who smokes and you want to help them quit? Nicorette® Coated Ice Mint Lozenges at Walgreens may just be part of the answer. They help relieve the cravings, anxiety, frustration, irritability, and restlessness associated with quitting smoking. Click here to download a digital coupon, now through December 1st. Some people can quit smoking cold turkey. For most others, it’s a struggle. I saw this firsthand with my own mother.
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As far back as I can remember, my mother smoked. She began smoking at the age of 17 (probably to stay thin.) She even smoked when she was pregnant with me. It was common back in those days, but can you imagine seeing a pregnant woman smoking today? I vividly remember her smoking with us in the car with the windows rolled up. It’s just who she was. So when I began smoking at the age of 15, she couldn’t really say anything. I smoked when I was being social with friends (we all did it), when I was stressed, and when I was drinking. I could go days without smoking and really only craved cigarettes when I had a drink in my hand. I spent my 20’s and early 30’s being a social smoker. Luckily I avoided true addiction and dependency.
One day, I woke up and felt just awful. I was a spinning instructor and otherwise pretty healthy except for the smoking, so I just stopped. It was a decision I made, and it was easy for me. I have not had a cigarette in over 15 years. In fact, the smell now makes me sick. I was lucky.
However, my mother has had a much harder time. She tried and failed at quitting at least a dozen times that I can recall. It was probably the only thing she ever failed at, and I think it drove her crazy. I remember catching her bumming cigarettes from strangers. My father, who never smoked, would buy a pack and keep them in his jacket pocket when they went out socially. He knew she would eventually turn into a monster later in the evening without a cigarette when she was trying to quit. Another time, my dad, brother, and I begged her to start smoking again because she was a nightmare.
Nearly 6 years ago, my younger brother (who was a heavy smoker but quit February 15, 2002) discovered he had a brain tumor. He told my mother that he could not be around her if she smoked. She finally quit. My brother is in remission but a year after his cancer scare, we learned my father had lung cancer. A man who never smoked had lung cancer. It was caused by my mother’s secondhand smoke. He died after having surgery to remove the cancer 5 years ago. So, I feel very strongly that people should do whatever they can to stop smoking—not just for themselves but for their families and those they love.
When I learned about this campaign, I wanted to be a part of it because quitting smoking means that much to me. If you or someone you love has attempted to quit in the past, or if you/they are looking for a resource to help you/them through their journey, or if you are now just contemplating quitting your smoking habit, know that Nicorette® Coated Ice Mint Lozenges are as accessible as your nearest Walgreens. Using Nicorette® doubles a patient’s chances of successfully quitting.
This first ever coated nicotine lozenge (Nicorette® is an over-the-counter smoking cessation option that’s FDA approved) is packaged in an on-the-go dispenser for convenient and discreet use. It delivers controlled, therapeutic doses of nicotine to relive cravings. They look and taste like a little breath mint but provide lasting craving relief, even after the lozenge dissolves. The 2mg Nicorette® Coated Ice Mint Lozenge can be used to help relive cravings if you smoke your first cigarette more than 30 minutes after waking up.
Please, for the sake of your health and your family’s health, help yourself or them quit smoking. I have personally seen and experienced the effects of what smoking can do to a family.
Visit Walgreens.com to shop the Nicorette® Family of products and for more information about Nicorette®.
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Photos: Gretchen Murcott
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