Everyone has different levels of addiction to nicotine and have different ways of dealing with it. The biggest thing on my side was my "desire" to quit. I really wanted to put them down, I did it and am smoke free for almost 5 yrs now. I got into fitness shortly after quitting, realized how bad of shape I was in and it was a huge motivator to get my wind, stamina and strength back. Now...my poor mom. Had a heart attack, put in 3 stints, simultaneously diagnosed with emphysema. Still smoking...says she just can't stop. She will...sooner than she thinks.