I quit after smoking 500,000 cigarettes
HEAVY smoker Eddie Burns puffed his way through a staggering half a million cigarettes – before finally quitting.
And Eddie, 62, who had a 40-a-day habit for 40 years, is urging others to do the same.
The handyman and driver, from Hamilton, has been off the cigs for three months – after battling for years to give up.
His success came after wife Margaret, 58, was advised by her doctor to give up. Eddie decided to join her at their nearby one-stop’ support group.
The couple officially stubbed out their habit on April 16 and have not lit up since.
New research shows it’s easier to stop smoking through attending a support group such as those run by the NHS.
And Eddie’s story is proof. He says the group was “magic”.
He said: “In the past, I tried to stop but with no success. But in the group, it’s much better. When you start smoking, it’s usually in a group, so it makes sense to quit in a group. There’s 15 of us, and you get help, motivation and lots of advice and encouragement from the others.
“In my time, I’ve smoked 40 a day for 40 years. That’s more than half a million cigarettes. It’s frightening when you add up the cost – to your health and your wallet.
At today’s prices smoking 40 a day for 40 years would cost around ?160,000 – the price of a decent house.”
Elspeth Russell, NHS Lanarkshire’s assistant health promotion manager, said the one-stop shop, run by specialist nurses really works.
They are held weekly for six weeks with two follow-up sessions and also include free Nicotine Replacement Therapy supplies.
She said: “Take Eddie’s advice – join a group and you’ll have more puff’ to enjoy life.”
The couple now find it a lot easier to run around after the youngest of their six grandchildren Luke, 2, Lee, 5 and Nicola, 10, who Margaret looks after during the holidays.
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Tags: Quit smoking, Smoking
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