Quitting smoking is one of the hardest behavior changes a person can make, yet the right combination of medication, professional support, and mindset shift can make it surprisingly achievable, even after decades of daily use. Sandi Hersh smoked for 40 years before quitting in 2022, and her story reveals why so many people struggle with nicotine addiction and what actually works when willpower alone fails. Why Is Quitting Smoking So Difficult? The statistics paint a sobering picture. According to the NHS, around 6.4 million adults in England still smoke, and while most say they want to quit, fewer than one in three attempts succeed without professional support. Hersh had resigned herself to smoking for life by her early sixties, having picked up the habit at 19 because she thought it looked cool. The addiction had become so woven into her daily routine that quitting seemed impossible. One persistent myth stands in the way of many smokers: the belief that cigarettes relieve stress. In reality, smoking creates a cycle of temporary relief followed by withdrawal discomfort. Collene Curran, a certified tobacco treatment professional at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, explained this dynamic clearly. "People think that smoking reduces their stress. But in reality, it causes a great deal of stress," said Curran. Collene Curran, Certified Tobacco Treatment Professional at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital Curran, who herself smoked for 30 years before quitting in 2005, understands the struggle from personal experience. She noted that many smokers start as teenagers, long before they develop healthy coping mechanisms for life's challenges. This means nicotine becomes intertwined with how people manage emotions and stress throughout adulthood. What Role Does Medication Play in Quitting? Hersh's breakthrough came through a prescription for varenicline, the generic form of a medication formerly marketed as Chantix. Unlike nicotine patches or gum, which replace the drug, varenicline works through a completely different mechanism. It blocks the brain receptors that nicotine attaches to, making cigarettes feel far less rewarding. "It is not nicotine replacement. Instead, it blocks the receptors that nicotine latches onto in the brain. Many smokers find that it makes cigarettes less rewarding. That helps reduce the desire to smoke," explained Curran. Collene Curran, Certified Tobacco Treatment Professional at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital For Hersh, the shift was immediate and striking. After starting the medication, she continued smoking for a short while but noticed something crucial: the familiar calming and energizing sensation in her chest after the first drag was gone. One evening, she realized she hadn't smoked since morning. She went to bed, and that was her last cigarette ever. How to Prepare for a Successful Quit Attempt Curran outlines several practical steps that significantly improve the odds of success. These strategies work best when implemented before the quit date arrives, creating a support structure for the difficult moments ahead. - Set a Specific Quit Date: Having a concrete goal in the near future makes the intention real and gives you something tangible to work toward, rather than an abstract idea. - Tell People Around You: Friends and family become meaningful sources of support when they know what you're attempting, and their encouragement can sustain you through cravings. - Seek Professional Help: Free NHS Stop Smoking services are available across the UK, and studies consistently show that people who use them are up to four times more likely to succeed than those attempting to quit alone. - Plan for Cravings: The urge to smoke typically lasts only three to five minutes, so strategies like drinking water, taking a short walk, listening to music, or calling someone you trust can bridge that gap. - Clear Your Environment: Remove cigarettes, lighters, and ashtrays from your home, car, and workplace to reduce the physical presence of smoking cues that trigger cravings. What Happens to Your Body After You Quit? The physical benefits of quitting smoking begin almost immediately and continue building over time. Blood pressure starts to drop within just 20 minutes of the last cigarette. Carbon monoxide levels in the blood return to normal after 12 hours, and by the one-year mark, the risk of heart disease falls to roughly half that of someone who still smokes. Beyond the internal changes, the visible improvements can be striking. Curran noted that quitting smoking is "a great beauty treatment," and the healthier appearance of former smokers months or years later is often remarkable. For cancer patients in particular, the benefits are significant; treatments are more effective and the risk of recurrence is lower in those who have stopped smoking. Many surgical teams also require patients to stop before operations, as smoking impairs the body's ability to heal. Curran Why Support at the Right Moment Makes All the Difference Hersh's journey wasn't just about medication. She credits much of her success to the relationship she built with Curran and having professional support in place before life's inevitable stressors arrived. After quitting, Hersh faced considerable personal stress: her husband brought home a puppy that contracted a serious illness requiring intensive veterinary care, and shortly afterward, Hersh herself came down with COVID-19. On previous quit attempts, events like these would have sent her straight back to cigarettes. This time, they didn't. Hersh explained the difference: "Life has been stressful at times, and still, I am not smoking. I was so lucky in how it all played out. On the hardest day of quitting, I happened to talk with Collene. She helped redirect my thinking". Hersh Hersh's story demonstrates a broader truth about addiction and recovery: the help is available, the medications work, and nobody has to go through it alone. For anyone considering quitting smoking, the evidence is clear: professional support, the right medication, and a structured plan dramatically improve the odds of success, even after decades of daily use.
