Whenever I tried to quit (before my successful effort described above), it was generally on the third day that I caved. That's the one you really need to watch. Once you get past that, it gradually eases off.

I once read a book on quitting smoking by a fellow who worked with hard-drug addicts--like heroin. He said that it generally takes about three weeks for the craving to die away completely. Once you reach the twenty-first day (with either heroin or nicotine), you are genuinely off the stuff. And if someone goes back to it then, they can't blame it on the physical addiction.

Watch that third day like a hawk. After that, it just fades away. . . .

It isn't a matter of luck, it's a matter of who or what is going to rule your life--you or RJR. Hang in there! In the future (and it's nice to have a future!), if you remember it at all, you'll look back on it as one of the best decisions you've ever made.

Don Firth