When Jerry was still a pastor, people would often come into our church bound by the nicotine habit. After they found God, many of them easily rid themselves of their addictions, while others found it extremely difficult. I recall one man in particular who just could not seem to stop smoking, and I believe he probably went to his grave still addicted to cigarettes. Here in this recent article from the Victoria Cancer Council 84 percent of smokers say, “I don’t want to smoke.”
January 03, 2007 07:05am
MORE than four out of five smokers want to give up cigarettes, a study has found.
The figures, compiled by the Cancer Council Victoria, found 84 per cent of smokers were not happy to continue the habit, Quit Victoria executive director Todd Harper said today.Only 11 per cent of smokers were happy to continue smoking for the rest of their lives.
“That so many smokers are unhappy to continue smoking illustrates not only how addictive cigarettes are, but also how adept the tobacco industry have become at making it hard for smokers to quit,” Mr Harper said.
“We need to be doing all that we can to help people to quit and this means restricting the ability of the tobacco industry to market their deadly product.”
Plain packaging and a ban on point-of-sale tobacco displays were needed to reduce the risk of others taking up the habit and to encourage smokers to quit, Mr Harper said.
“The only way to stamp out aggressive tobacco industry tactics, using the pack as the primary method of promoting their deadly product, is to force the tobacco industry to adopt plain packaging,” he said.
“Along with the removal of the tobacco products currently displayed at the point of sale, often in venues frequented by children, a move to plain packaging would be a significant step forward in reducing the exposure of both smokers and non-smokers to tobacco marketing.”
How about you? Have you ever been addicted to cigarettes? Are you now? Do you wish you could stop smoking? How about people who come into the churches you are associated with? Has it ever been a problem in the church? Any suggestions for those who are addicted to these and other drugs?
Shirley Buxton 
9 replies on “Cigarette Smokers Hate The Habit”
What is meant by the A.C.T.S. programme?
LikeLike
I have a burden to see people quit cigarette smoking. I needto start somewhere. Over the past five years I have been reading up a lot of material on this subject and I am asking God to guide me. “Quit for Your Life Complex” must come to pass.
LikeLike
Craig, thank you for coming by and for leaving your comments.
Congratulations on “kicking the filthy habit!”
LikeLike
Great article Shirley, and Happy New Year to you.
I myself am a reformed smoker, and if I’d had a single dollar for each time I attempted to quit I’d be a rich man.
I found for myself the method that worked best was a book recommendation; The Only Way To Quit Smoking Permanently – Alan Carr
It’s a very dry read, but it’s effective. I had my last cigarette the evening before my father in-laws funeral, and have never had one since. There were no cravings, no withdrawals, and certainly no mood swings.
I congratulate anyone who has kicked the habit successfully regardless of the means. The sooner the world is smoke free the better for everyone.
LikeLike
Dean, thank you for these uplifting words. Thank you for bringing to our attention the amazing grace of Jesus Christ.
Blessings and a Happy New Year.
LikeLike
Addictive behavior manifests itself in many ways. Alcohol, tobacco, drugs. None can be successfully
battled without help from a HIGHER POWER. I know!!Thank God for his Amazing Grace!
LikeLike
Jana, thank you for sharing that amazing story and for the ACTS program recommendation. I join you in approving this dynamic program which has been very successful across the country–perhaps even in other countries, although I am not sure about that.
Maria, yes there is great freedom when we are able to break negative habits.
LikeLike
I know many who have felt so free after breaking the habit… i guess that’s the same with any habit.
God bless
Maria in the UK
http://www.inhishands.co.uk
LikeLike
As a young girl of about 12 years of age, I will never forget a man being delivered from chain smoking. During a church service, this man knelt to pray right in front of me. As he prayed, he began to sweat. His pale, yellow shirt began to turn a nasty brown as the nicotine poured from his body. From that day forward, the man never craved a cigarette. Not only was he delivered from the nasty habit, but God also cleansed his body from all effects of the nicotine. Although this was well past 30 years ago, I can vividly see this entire scene in my mind. I don’t think I will ever forget the “brown” sweat coming from all his pores. It was incredible! A suggestion for anyone currently fighting an addiction would be to find a facility that teaches the A.C.T.S. program. Our church has used this program in conjunction with our local courts. Judges have required many substance abusers to complete our classes. We have had employers of local businesses thank us for helping their employees who made positive changes after attending A.C.T.S. As far as I know, most people who offer the A.C.T.S. program also offer it free of charge.
LikeLike