Independence Day

[Dr_Hurt]

In the United States, we celebrate our independence from tyranny on July 4th. You might also use this day to celebrate your independence from the tyranny of tobacco.

When you stop smoking, you truly gain independence. You no longer depend upon cigarettes to help you get going in the morning, to manage stress, to help you drive the car, or to enjoy your coffee. You are no longer hounded to make a long march outside of our smoke-free buildings to alleviate withdrawal and are no longer bound to pay the tobacco company so that you can just feel normal.

Once you are independent, once you have stopped smoking, you have many reasons to celebrate. You can get going in the morning on your own and manage stress more fully and naturally. You can drive the car just fine, even better than with a cigarette in hand. You are no longer sentenced to going outside in all kinds of weather and you are free from the scourge of having to fork over your hard-earned money to pay the tobacco company for relief from withdrawal and to satisfy urges to smoke.

If you have already stopped smoking, take a moment this July 4th to celebrate your freedom and think of all that you have gained since stopping smoking. If you are considering quitting, use this day as a jumping off point. Use all the tools available at www.becomeanex.org to develop a plan and then begin to work on your plan for independence from tobacco. Join in the independence celebration this year so that you will be around to celebrate for many years to come.

Dr. Richard D. Hurt is an internationally recognized expert on tobacco dependence. A native of Murray, Kentucky, he joined Mayo Clinic in 1976 and is now a Professor of Medicine at its College of Medicine. In 1988, he founded the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center and since then its staff has treated over 33,000 patients for tobacco dependence. Send your questions directly to Dr. Hurt at AskTheExpert@becomeanex.org