Smoking. If there are any smokers here that have tried to quit or had to go a hours without a smoke, you know how miserable you can become. Almost desperate. How are you going to cope with withdrawal if tobacco is not available after the new year? Or will you barter your family's needed supplies for smokes if they are available? I know how hard it is because I use to smoke. When I first heard about y2k, I knew I had to stop. It was hard, because I really enjoyed my cigarettes. It has been two years since I have quit and to be honest, I still miss smoking, but I don't crave it. I just know how miserable I was during withdrawal. I hope I haven't stepped on anyone's toes because I was touchy about my smoking habits and did not want a lecture.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), July 14, 1999

Answers

Carol, I have been addicted to several things in my life, including cigarettes. Quiting smoking was worse than quitting any of the other addictions -- and it is an addiction.

Almost desperate? Try insanely desperate. I found the only way for me to quit was cold turkey. That was 10 years ago. Hope no one brings a smoke around after the rollover.

Touchy subject, yes. People need to think about these things, though.

-- joe (camel@winston.help), July 14, 1999.

Carol, good for you!

I quit smoking (for the third time) in November, 1968. It was one of the hardest things I've ever voluntarily done. But I can tell you, and anyone else who is interested, that it gets easier as time goes by. Don't give up! You really have done the hardest part. And you won't miss smoking forever. I have actually been repulsed by cigarette smoke for so many years I don't remember when I actually stopped wanting a ciggy.

As far as "liking" smoking, I often found myself thinking about how yucky they tasted, how my lungs were adversely affected, and how bad I smelled to non smokers. Then I'd tell myself, "Self, you need to stop this terrible habit. Tomorrow". Always tomorrow, it seemed. Anyone who says smokiing isn't addictive hasn't tried to stop after ten years.

Best wishes, good luck!

-- jumpoffjoe (jumpoff@echoweb.net), July 14, 1999.

The material below on tobacco/beverage ethanol with respect to Y2K is from the "Barter..." article on my website. It seemed relevant. Yours in preparation.

Tobacco - comes from a considerable distance (U.S. South); most users are very dependent, so will be highly valued; is a traditionally very successful barter item; do not stockpile if anyone in household is a user (at all) as will probably end up simply being consumed rather than used in trade; exception: those wealthy enough to afford a personal stockpile without consequent skimping on other aspects of preparation.

Beverage alcohol - a number of users are quite dependent on it, although not as high a percentage as tobacco; is a historically very useful barter item; still, it can be made locally (although an unpalatable/dangerous product is likely); do not store weak (under 20 proof) types as they do not keep well (e.g., beer); like tobacco, do not stockpile if your household contains a habitual dependent user; also, do not store it in lead-containing crystal containers for extended periods of time, as the lead leaches out into the liquid over time.

www.y2ksafeminnesota.com

-- MinnesotaSmith (y2ksafeminnesota@hotmail.com), July 14, 1999.

Just think though, if some DGI in your household smokes and you don't, and you stockpile some (locked away). You could make that person do silly tricks to get a smoke, or do more than their share of chores.

I know it sounds cruel but it also sounds like fun. I mean its not like you're depriving them of food or water, and its not like they couldn't have stockpiled some while they had a chance. Probably easier to quit gradually than cold-turkey anyway, especially during a stressful time.

Of course, if they had some of the _other_ smoking material they could make me do some silly human tricks to get it....hey we're gonna need entertainment...

-- biker (y2kbiker@worldnet.att.net), July 14, 1999.

Hey Guys.... I too had a small habit. It was not smoking, it was Mt Dew!!! I would have sold my first born for a Mt Dew. (almost) Anyway I also saw that quiting a habit cold turkey during a very bad time couldn't be easy, especially on everyone else. So I woke up one morning and just didnt buy any more. The first 24 hours were bad but after that no big deal. I have never smoked so I have real sympathy for you smokers trying to quite.

I will not be buying any smokes or alcohol to barter with....I dont it would be a wise barter for the person needing the cigs. I'm sure food or heat would be a much wiser barter (or at least wiser for thier familys)

-- bulldog (sniffin@around.com), July 14, 1999.

My habit of quitting almost equaled my habit of smoking. I finally went for the hypnosis, which worked. It cost me $125, but I woulda paid ten times that. I really feel sorry for people who will have that to deal with if tshtf.

-- KoFE (your@town.USA), July 14, 1999.

Carol, I have been a smoker since my teens and have tried to quit on several occasions. The trouble is I like smoking. I felt sick each time and did not succede. However, with what is coming and knowing my dependance I will have to give it another shot ( or two or three). I have to be smart enough to put my family before a stupid habit. I cannot imagine bartering food or supplies for something that really benefits no one in the end. I know I am not alone in this, and wish good luck to all of you.

-- Gia (Laureltree7@hotmail.com), July 15, 1999.

For our 20th anniversary (the "un-official" one) I put my pipe down, threw all of them away (including the Russian Lion (*OUCH*) Peasant) and have been tobacco free (excluding 3 cigars at specific celebratory events) since. I STILL look for the tobacco and lighter and tool when I'm stressed. we celebrate our 25 (the "Official" one) Labor Day weekend (or thereabouts).

Chuck who sometimes can't walk through the drug store.....the tobacco smells so good.....

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), July 15, 1999.

Gia, if you will e-mail me, I will be happy to tell you the plan I used to quit smoking. It worked for me. I did it my way. I figured the effects of my treatment was no worse than the actual smoking.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), July 15, 1999.

I quit 51 days ago (but who's counting?) I finished my last patch on Sunday and my last Zyban yesterday. I don't crave the nicotine as much as I crave the 'act' of smoking. However-- I've gained 17 pounds in these last 51 days. As far as I can tell, my eating and exercise habits haven't changed. Anyone have any ideas to help with that?

-- yerfdog (yerfdog@qwestinternet.net), July 15, 1999.

If you to quit smoking, try accupuncture. I was smoking about a pack a day (Camel unfiltered), and it made a difference for me. It's not as painful as it looks.

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), July 15, 1999.

Carol,

I quite in 1966 while I was in vietnam. It took several years before I stopped *dreaming* that I had started again. It wasn't the easiest thing I have ever done, but probably wasn't the hardest either. The knowledge that you are doing it to help protect and provide for your loved ones will help stay off the cigs.

There is no question that nicotine is very addictive. It is also a powerful poison (go figure). It is used in an insecticide called "Black Leaf 40", the only active ingredient in which (if I recall correctly)is nicotine.

After stopping smoking, I discovered that my sense of smell became much keener. Probably the truth is that it was anesthetized (sp?) by the smoke. Anyway, I enjoy things that I never noticed when I was smoking. Now I can smell tobacco smoke from a very considerable distance - a fact which one should consider if he is trying to remain undetected.

I agree that if anyone is inclined to stop smoking, it will be much better to do it now than later. Probably easier on the family as well.

Good post. Thanks.

gene

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), July 17, 1999.

With the help of "the patch" I quit smoking six years ago--after 35 years. If it were cheap, healthy and socially acceptable, I'd start again in a heartbeat! Oh--bad choice of words.

Nice surprise--at my annual check-up earlier this year, the doc asked me how long it had been since I quit. I told him. He answered, "You now have the same chance of cancer, heart attacks and so on, as the nonsmoking population."

Another nice surprise during the last six years is that my house stays a lot cleaner and my clothes don't have tiny holes in them from hot ash.

Unfortunately, there's no patch for Coca-Cola addiction. I weaned myself, though. Started drinking fruit concentrate made with club soda or seltzer and allowed myself just one glass of Coke in the middle of the day. The juice concentrate was gradually reduced until there was only a touch to color the soda or seltzer. Now I can drink plain club or seltzer, no problem. Now if I can just make the leap to plain water. . .!

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), July 17, 1999.

Hi Carol,

Excellant post! I for one have been battling this curse for the last 6 months,trying to quit that is! I would be eternally grateful for any insights on quitting the habit. If this is your real e-mail address, let me know and I will e-mail you. I'm still not comfortable providing my real address due to some very unsettling e-mail recieved from the other forum a few months ago.

Just for folks that choose not to quit the habit. I did some rough estimates on how many cartons of smokes I would need to last 6 months. At our current prices for my brand, they usually run around $18.00 a carton. Restricting usuage to a carton a week, which is my normal usuage,that would cost me $432.00 for a 6 month supply! That money could be used in a lot of other ways,IMHO. Plus, factor in that more than likely we'll be living in more stressful times which will result in more usuage,so you'll have to stock more.

Not trying to belittle anyones habits or vices, I truly love to smoke,but I need to start looking at my future health and needs. Sure, if you got beaucoup funds and enjoy it,go for it!

Thanks for any help!

-- Ex-Marine (Digging In@Home.com), July 17, 1999.

Yes, my e-mail is real, but I don't check this account very often. I am one of those "if I can quit, anyone can" people. Because I tried many times to quit and just couldn't. Here is what I did. I bought a package of patches and a pack of Carlton cigarettes. When the patch was on for a few hours, I began to want to smoke. I smoked a Carlton and put on another patch. I might use four patches in one day, but very soon I was down to just one. I did not get miserable or desperate doing it this way. I never bought the next step of patch. I just kept buying the No. 1 and cut them into. Cost less and you got more that way. When I put the patch on my arm, my arm would hurt for awhile. And I slept with the patch on and had very strange dreams. I quit completely in about 8 weeks doing it my way.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), July 17, 1999.

Hi Carol!

Thanks for the tips, I'm headed to Wally World as soon as I get off this addiction!

Take care!

-- Ex-Marine (Digging In@Home.com), July 17, 1999.

I mentioned my method of quitting a few weeks (days?) ago and got some flak from folks I respect on this forum. Maybe not flak, maybe humor?, but I took it wrong. Anyways the chips are down here and we all need each other's help so Here Goes.... My method was the antidepressant drug ZOLOFT. The "flak" I got was about loss of libido,(which I didn't have much of ,by the way). But SERIOUSLY>>>it worked!!! I've tried *everything*, gum, hypno, needles, patch, cold turkey, I just plain loved smoking, so whatever method I tried... I always got a few weeks and people around me begged me to smoke again... Iwas such a miserable S.O.B. I raged with anger and next minute felt life wasn't worth living. I smoked for 30 yrs! It was a major part of my identity, I saw myself as one of those old men with a yellow mustache,hauling an O2 tank around. My first thoughts about y2k were about having to do without cigarettes after the stash runs out! I finally quit 6 mos ago, with the help of Zoloft. It took away the highs(anger) and lows(deep depression and missing smokes). I took 50mg a day for 2 wks, then quit, staying on the Z for these 6 mo. Now am just about tapered off of it. Im not sugesting that people should quit. If you love em & want to smoke - don't leave home without them. I really mean it. But if you have inklings that you'd rather not go thru y2k as a smoker- you really gotta quit...NOW. For those who've tried everything and still smoke... try Zoloft. And so what if libidos get reduced.. it's only temporary and the extra time can be used for prep!

-- Bob (kabob@snet.net), July 18, 1999.

I'm also addicted to Cocacola, so I'm switching to ice tea. Of course tea and sugar will run out eventually but I figure I can store quite a bit. I'm stocking some caffeine pills too. The Kmart "Jet Alert" double strength brand is BY FAR the cheapest.

-- biker (y2kbiker@worldnet.att.net), July 20, 1999.

Re caffeine addiction:

I accidentally went "cold turkey" off caffeine two years ago when I volunteered at a summer camp for a week. I was so busy riding herd on "my guys" (an 8-man crew of 12-year-old crazies) and got so much more sleep than usual (8-9 hours a night - bliss!) that I didn't really miss my usual daily "hit" of 3 or 4 cups of rocket fuel.

Once I got home, unfortunately, it was all too easy to slip back into the "need for speed". So, it may be that Y2K will result in the loss of some bad habits...

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.hid), July 20, 1999.