 John Watson can't remember why he started smoking cigarettes when he was 35 years old.
"I'd been chewing tobacco for about two or three years, but I don't know," he said. "I can't really explain it. I got nervous and I smoked to calm my nerves. It wasn't a good idea."
Watson, 69, was born and raised in Monroeville and has spent his entire life there. He is retired from Scott Paper Co. and worked several years after that for Alabama River Woodlands. A divorced father of three, Watson has four grandchildren.
For more than 30 years, Watson smoked, averaging a pack a day. "As soon as I woke up, the first thing I'd want to do was smoke a cigarette," he said.
In April 2008, Watson began thinking about quitting smoking. Then he saw a news article in the Mobile Press Register and decided to call the Alabama Tobacco Quitline. "I needed a little help," he said. Watson soon connected with a counselor who worked with him to make a quit plan.
Along with the counseling, the free nicotine replacement therapy patches provided by the Quitline helped him quit, Watson said. " I guess it's just part of the quitting process."
Watson said he started quitting for an hour at a time. Then he bought a pack of cigarettes every day, smoked three in the morning, and threw the rest of the pack away.
In June 2008, he was able to quit completely. "I realized I could do without those three cigarettes," he said.
Since he quit, Watson said he feels better. "I don't worry about cancer as much, especially cancer of the mouth," he said. " I don't feel like I have nicotine all over my skin. I feel cleaner."
Watson had some advice for those who want to quit smoking. "Don't give up. Keep trying," he said. "I had to try several times."
Watson said he tried substituting hard candy for cigarettes but it didn't help. "There is no substitute for a cigarette," he said. "Sure I get a desire for a cigarette sometimes, but I let it pass. I feel good about not smoking."
Karen Barnes with the Alabama Tobacco Quitline was Watson's counselor. "I think Mr. Watson's sucess is due to the fact that he never gave up. He just kept trying because he knew he wanted to quit smoking more than anything," she said. "I tell a lot of my callers to not get discouraged if the first, second, or third attempt doesn't work. The important thing is to just keep trying!"
Remember, any Alabamian can use the FREE phone or online counseling services and receive 4 weeks of FREE Nicotine Replacement Therapy patches (if medically eligible and enrolled in counseling) provided by Alabama QUITNOW. Call 1-800-QUITNOW or 1-800-784-8669 or for online counseling click here
Hours of Operation
Monday through Friday - 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Saturday - 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Sunday and after hours - Voicemail is available
Days of Operation
The Alabama Tobacco Quitline is open Monday through Saturday except for recognized holidays: Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving Day.
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