Navy Veteran quits tobacco, feels like a million bucks
Navy Veteran Frederick Hamilton has always been in great shape, but these days he has new pep in his step. After years of relying on cigars and smokeless tobacco, Hamilton decided to quit tobacco. After being tobacco free for eight months, he says he now feels “like a million bucks.”
Family history of smoking
Hamilton’s relationship with tobacco began while in the Navy. He served in the 1980s and found comfort in chewing tobacco while on watch in the Indian Ocean. It was a habit that ran deep in his family; his grandfather chewed tobacco, and his father smoked. He knew the risks associated with his habit, but wasn’t’ able to quit. “I always knew tobacco was bad for me,” he said. It took a pivotal moment—a group session at the Houston VA—to ignite his determination to quit.
Joining a tobacco cessation support group was a game-changer for Hamilton. Sitting in a session with other Veterans, each sharing their own struggles and victories, he found a camaraderie he hadn’t anticipated. “Hearing their stories made me realize I wasn’t alone,” he said. The competitive spirit that served him well in the Navy kicked in, fueling his resolve to quit. “I stopped making excuses and committed to change,” he added.
Quitting cold turkey was no easy feat. Hamilton acknowledges there were and still are good and bad days, but the support from his fellow Veterans and the tools he learned from VA psychologist Dr. Zina Peters, cessation support group lead, made all the difference. “The VA meetings really helped; they hold me accountable,” he said. He noticed significant improvements in his health, his gums are healthier, and he feels more energetic, he explained.
VA is here to help with smoking cessation
According to Peters, many Veterans have been in a long-term relationship with smoking, often gaining nothing but poor health in return. Veterans are often more than ready to quit, but just need a little support. “We empower Veterans to take back control of their lives,” she explained, highlighting the importance of education in the cessation process. The group sessions provide tools for quitting and fosters a sense of belonging among Veterans who often feel isolated in their struggles.
For Hamilton, quitting tobacco has been life changing. He now actively seeks out situations that test his resolve, using time management techniques to stay focused and avoid triggers. He hopes other Veterans will follow in his footsteps. “If I can do it, anyone can,” he said. “It’s never too late to take back control and embrace a healthier life.”
If you are thinking about quitting, VA is here to help Veterans through its tobacco cessation program. Talk with your primary care provider to get started.
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after 20 years of an expensive habit one morning, I woke up and put a cigarette in my mouth before I had opened my eyes. I lit it and took a couple of puffs. My mind said this is the stupidest thing I have ever done. I crushed it out and never put another one in my mouth and with the cost of them now I figure I save around $400 dollars a month.
I started smoking when I joined the AF in 1976. I never thought I could quit. I had a solid addiction, and the fear of withdrawals and the “pleasure/comfort” of smoking kept me puffing away. I finally asked my VA Dr. (Dr. Jeff, we had to call him) about quitting, just to see what the process was going to entail. He had the Tobacco cessation program contact me. The program staffers are great and supportive people. No pressure and I was able to quit at my own pace. I was able to smoke while starting the treatments (oral pills and nicotine lozenges) but I soon I found myself smoking less and less. By the end of the first week I had stopped smoking and it has been 8 weeks so far. I still get the occasional urge, but it passes fast. Just the thought that I haven’t had a smoke in weeks and actually threw away half a pack is a source of great joy and accomplishment. I swear if I knew it was going to be this easy I would have contacted the VA years ago. Thank you VA….
How about marijuana? Smokers have a lightly addictive substance they inhale when smoking the plant. Just as with tobacco, Marijuana also has substances that cause cancer over time. Then there are the tars and ash that cause lung disease and even coronary artery disease.
How many people will realize that to cover the costs of the diseases that marijuana cause will cause us to charge a huge tax. The only thing that held down taxes on tobacco was political pressure, not reality.
Ask your political and medical friends how they are going to cover the diseases that marijuana causes. They will be similar to the diseases that tobacco causes. We may not have low paid workers to process the marijuana just as we had historically with tobacco.