Started smoking when I came back from Iraq. It was something to occupy my body and mind cause I had the "jitters" real bad when I first came back. Then I never stopped smoking. After about 4 years, I quit smoking and started dipping and chewing. After two years I stopped that because I noticed that my gumline had deteriorated severly. I then started using the nicotine gum for a few months and finally I transitioned to regular gum. Haven't had any nicotine since December 2010. It's just mind over matter. Anyone can quit.