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Mike the Myth Slayer

Myth: It’s easy to quit smoking. I can quit whenever I want.

Fact: Most smokers find it very difficult to quit. Nicotine, the drug in tobacco that gives smokers a “buzz,” is highly addictive. It often takes smokers many tries to kick the habit for good.

The younger you are when you start smoking, the harder it is to quit. People who start smoking before the age of 21 have the hardest time quitting. And 30 percent of young people who smoke will never quit, and will die early from a smoking-related disease.

It’s a lot easier to not start smoking than it is to quit. If you don’t smoke, keep it up! If you smoke, quit. There are lots of resources that can help you kick the habit, so you can have a healthier future.

 Sources: National Institutes of Health – www.nih.gov; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – www.cdc.gov