{"id":7707,"date":"2025-12-19T15:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T15:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7707"},"modified":"2025-12-19T15:30:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T15:30:00","slug":"kicking-the-habit-a-smoking-cessation-success-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=7707","title":{"rendered":"Kicking the habit: A smoking cessation success story"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2025-12-19T15:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

Navy Veteran quits tobacco, feels like a million bucks<\/h2>\n

Navy Veteran Frederick\u00a0Hamilton has always been in great shape, but these days he has new pep in his step. After years of relying on cigars and smokeless tobacco, Hamilton decided to quit tobacco. After being tobacco free for eight months, he says he now feels \u201clike a million bucks.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Family history of smoking<\/h2>\n

Hamilton\u2019s relationship with tobacco began while in the Navy. He served in the 1980s and found comfort in chewing tobacco while on watch in the Indian Ocean. It was a habit that ran deep in his family; his grandfather chewed tobacco, and his father smoked. He knew the risks associated with his habit, but wasn\u2019t\u2019 able to quit. \u201cI always knew tobacco was bad for me,\u201d he said. It took a pivotal moment\u2014a group session at the Houston VA<\/a>\u2014to ignite his determination to quit.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Joining a tobacco cessation support group was a game-changer for Hamilton. Sitting in a session with other Veterans, each sharing their own struggles and victories, he found a camaraderie he hadn\u2019t anticipated. \u201cHearing their stories made me realize I wasn\u2019t alone,\u201d he said. The competitive spirit that served him well in the Navy kicked in, fueling his resolve to quit. \u201cI stopped making excuses and committed to change,\u201d he added. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Quitting cold turkey was no easy feat. Hamilton acknowledges there were and still are good and bad days, but the support from his fellow Veterans and the tools he learned from VA psychologist Dr.\u00a0Zina Peters, cessation support group lead, made all the difference. \u201cThe VA meetings really helped; they hold me accountable,\u201d he said. He noticed significant improvements in his health, his gums are healthier, and he feels more energetic, he explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n

VA is here to help with smoking cessation<\/h2>\n

According to Peters, many Veterans have been in a long-term relationship with smoking, often gaining nothing but poor health in return. Veterans are often more than ready to quit, but just need a little support.\u00a0\u201cWe empower Veterans to take back control of their lives,\u201d she explained, highlighting the importance of education in the cessation process. The group sessions provide tools for quitting and fosters a sense of belonging among Veterans who often feel isolated in their struggles.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For Hamilton, quitting tobacco has been life changing. He now actively seeks out situations that test his resolve, using time management techniques to stay focused and avoid triggers. He hopes other Veterans will follow in his footsteps. \u201cIf I can do it, anyone can,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s never too late to take back control and embrace a healthier life.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you are thinking about quitting, VA is here to help Veterans through its tobacco cessation program<\/a>. Talk with your primary care provider to get started.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Navy Veteran Frederick Hamilton quit tobacco after years, inspired by a VA smoking cessation support group. Now tobacco-free, he feels “like a million bucks.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":151,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-veteran-stories"],"yoast_head":"\nKicking the habit: A smoking cessation success story - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Navy Veteran Frederick Hamilton quit tobacco after years, inspired by a VA smoking cessation support group. 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