Hi, and welcome to the web site.  My name is Alonzo Heath and I am an ex-smoker.  Yes, that's right, and EX-smoker.  I have been off of cigarettes for nearly 12 years now, having quit on March 3, 1998.  I remember that day just as I remember my birthday, my anniversary, and all the significant dates in my life.  Why?  Because if you are a smoker and you quit, the day you quit becomes one of the most important days of your life.  When I quit back in 1998 there were not many electronic resources and the stop smoking aids consisted of non-flavored nicotine gum and the newly introduced patches.  I tried the gum for a year or two but it was so bad during those early days that I could not establish a consistent program.  I gave up less from will power and more from the fact that the stuff just tasted really bad.  I did try the patches but after just two days, I developed a rash.  So I had to discontinue using them.

So, how did I quit, if i rejected the only two nicotine aide's available at the time?  Cold turkey.  Yep, that's right, I went cold turkey.  And believe me, it was quite an adventure.  Over the period of a a couple of weeks, my children learned to hate me, my friends stayed away from me, and my wife was just about ready to pack her bags and leave for good.  I didn't do well in the withdrawal part, but finally I managed, and made it through.  And now, in March of 2010, I will celebrate 12 years smoke free.  And believe me, after all that I went through to get off cigarettes, there's no way, absolutely no way, that I will ever put one up to my lips again.

When I quit, there were not many resources to help.  The federal government had a few publications, along with the Red Cross and a few other agencies, but there just wasn't a lot of resources available.  On the Internet, there was one major support site, but that was about it.  Today, things are different.  Resources and programs are much more plentiful.  There still are too few support sites, but that is changing as well.  The purpose of this web site is serve as a support site, and to a large degree a way to sort through many of the programs and information that are out there.

Cold turkey is one way to quit smoking but I personally believe, based on my own experience, that cold turkey should be a last resort and not a first resort.   I did it because my options were limited.  You don't have to do it, you have many more options today than I had back in the nineties. This site will feature some of those options.  Additionally, as I get useful information and motivational success stories to help you on your smoking cessation journey, I will be sure to post them on the site as well.  I will be starting small, but stick with me while I grow this site.  If you are currently trying to quit or if you are anticipating, or planning to quit, stay with me.  I may be able to help.

The good news is that anyone can quit.  You were not born a smoker.  It is not a natural condition.  Just like any habit, it is learned.  So, just as you learned to smoke, you can unlearn.  I did it, and as I tell people, if I can quit smoking, anyone can quit.  I was one of those two pack a day, smoke down to the filter, yellow thumb and finger smokers.  I had so much tobacco residue on my fingers that I believed had I run out of cigarettes, I could have just sucked my thumb for my nicotine fix.  So don't fret, others have been there before.  I am here to help.  And I am sure, as the word gets around, others will be here to help you as well.

Enjoy the site.