Like many men of my generation, I have been a smoker. I was for several years. After a few more or less successful attempts, I completely quit smoking 13 years ago. I am obviously doing very well!

The opinion I express here is very personal. First, I think we need to play down the difficulty and suffering associated with quitting smoking. Everyone knows it is not easy. But it is doable! Moreover, for many smokers, the attempt that turns out to be really successful is often the easiest or the least painful.

Above all, you have to be motivated, do it for yourself and not for others and above all to understand why you smoke. Personally, I think psychological factors are just as important, if not more, than physiological addiction. On a related note, I think the use of nicotine patches can be a double-edged sword. These products do not replace motivation and I have known many smokers who have relapsed shortly after stopping using the patches, precisely because they trusted them too much.

Finally, if the relapse does occur, don’t worry too much. There is a way to recover and you will know how.

Good luck!

D^r Jacques Allard, MD, FCMFC