According to his wife Michelle, Barack Obama hasn't smoked a cigarette in nearly a year.
In December, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs mentioned that the President has been chewing nicotine gum in an effort to stop smoking, and told the press that he had not seen Mr. Obama smoke a cigarette in 9 months or more. It sounds like the President may be on his way to putting tobacco in his past for good.
Anyone who has battled nicotine addiction knows how challenging the road to smoke-freedom can be. It takes most of us more than one try to kick tobacco to the curb. Imagine trying to quit smoking with the eyes of the world on you, ready to critique your quit program every step of the way. I feel for Mr. Obama, and it is a tribute to his strong character that he has been able to quit smoking while in office.
That said, I would caution that nicotine gum can be habit-forming, and would encourage him to work closely with his doctor to step down off of the gum in time as well.
If you smoke and are interested in nicotine replacement therapy as a quit aid, use the article below to review the choices available on the market today.
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And don't forget to add some support to your quit program -- you may find that it is the single most important ingredient to long-term success with smoking cessation.
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There's no time like the present to quit smoking. Stub out that last cigarette and make today count!
Barack Obama
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