I smoked less than a pack a day. However once I got into the booze it increased to a pack. My lady asked what I wanted for Christmas and I said a box of patches. After the look she gave me, I said I was serious. New Years came and I went out on a toot. The next morning I awoke to find that I had 2 left in the pack. Now I hate the smell of cigarettes in the morning and I rarely light up before noon but a year after I retired I noticed that I was smoking more and earlier in the morning.
So I looked at the two smokes and lit up. Then slapped the patch on.
Wore it for 2 weeks than threw it away. I found it took the craving away but not the habit part. To explain I guess I would say that at a certain spot I would always reach for the package. Like after breakfast and a cup of coffee. When I realized that it was this it became easier as I was not craving for the smoke. This was 9 years ago.
ad.