From Willpower to Science

This got me thinking: throughout history, how many well-known figures have fought their own battles with smoking? Turns out, quite a few:

As a teenager, Mahatma Gandhi experimented with smoking and became addicted to it briefly. In his autobiography, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, he described the shame and guilt he felt for hiding his habit from his family and stealing money to buy cigarettes. Although his smoking phase was short-lived, Gandhi spoke of how difficult it was to overcome the initial cravings and break the secrecy and dependency it created. His quitting story illustrates that even a brief relationship with smoking can result in significant mental and moral struggles. Unfortunately, we don’t know how he overcome the cravings but again its important to realize whoever short you are a smoker you will experience strong cravings when try quitting.

Then the well-Known Mark Twain (1835-1910). He struggled with quitting smoking a lot and his was often quoted as saying,” Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times.” He never could successfully quit smoking.

There were a lot of other famous people of the past who either struggled to quit smoking or who quit successfully like the famous Russian author Leo Tolstoy who quitted as part of a spiritual transformation and he emphases the importance of self-control with quitting.

Charles Darwin quitted due to health reasons and he included his quitting smoking as a lifestyle change. Then the famous Dawid Bowie stressed the positive effects quitting had on his health and his voice.

Barak Obama said quitting was the hardest thing he ever did in his life. He frequently struggled with cravings during his presidency, a time of high stress. He mentioned in his memoir A Promised Land that he relied heavily on nicotine gum to manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings. The journey was long, with slip-ups along the way, but Obama's eventual success underscores the persistence required to quit smoking and the challenges of overcoming cravings.

To add onto the statement made by Barak that he relied heavily on nicotine gum to manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings there are various case studies that proofed that the use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy products the answer is to strong withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

This study was called the NRT Effectiveness:

 A Cochrane review found that all forms of NRT, such as gum, patches, and sprays, are significantly more effective than placebo in achieving long-term smoking cessation. The review covered 136 studies with over 64,000 participants and demonstrated high-quality evidence supporting NRT's role in reducing withdrawal symptoms and helping smokers quit. The use of combination NRT (e.g., patch plus gum) can further enhance effectiveness, especially for heavy smokers

​

Furthermore, the following discoveries were made:

Studies have shown that combining high-dose patches with fast-acting NRT products like gum can manage withdrawal symptoms more effectively, particularly in heavily dependent smokers. Combining NRT with vaping or other pharmacological aids such as varenicline has also shown promise, although further research is needed​.

Have a look at this case study: Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) for successful smoking Cessation

Case Study 1: Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) for Successful Smoking Cessation

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of NRT products in helping smokers quit successfully.

Background:

Intervention:

Results:

Key Takeaways:

Whether it’s Gandhi sneaking cigarettes as a teen, Twain’s endless attempts to quit, or Obama grinding through cravings with nicotine gum, one thing is clear: quitting smoking is never easy. But it is possible.

Today, you don’t have to rely solely on willpower like those before us. Science has given us tools—like NRT, support groups, and even apps—that can make the journey easier. The cravings might feel overwhelming, but they’re temporary. And with the right plan, you can break free from smoking for good.

So, what’s your story going to be? Are you ready to be part of the next chapter in this long history of beating smoking? If so, take that first step—whether it’s a patch, gum, or just saying, “Today is the day I try.