From: Ray Bannon Subject: AS3 FAQ Part 1 of 4 Date: 05. kolovoz 2000 15:24 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) FOR ALT.SUPPORT.STOP-SMOKING (AS3) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The sublimity of wisdom is to do those things living, which are desired when dying - unknown Part 1: The AS3 family, and how we can help you and each other 1. What is a FAQ? A FAQ is a collection of Frequently Asked Questions occurring in aparticular newsgroup. The AS3 FAQ strives to inspire as well as inform. And we would like you to know that contrary to the custom of many other Usenet groups, if you bring up a topic that has been discussed before, you will not be flamed nor "sent to the FAQ" (though it may be recommended to you). In other words, we won't mind. 2. What is Alt.Support.Stop-Smoking? Alt.Support.Stop-Smoking is a Usenet newsgroup - a public forum fordiscussion of a particular topic - formed in the Spring of 1994 to supportthose who have quit or are planning to quit smoking or using tobacco in other forms (e.g., dipping). The group's creator, Bob Munzenrider, formed AS3 under the 'alt.' hierarchy because it was the most expedient way to get the group on the 'net. Anyone who gets something out of, and perhaps contributes to, the group can consider themselves to be a member - there are no forms to fill out, dues to pay, or hazing rituals. :) Some members have years of smoke-free time behind them; others are just beginning tothink about quitting. No matter what stage you are in, your experiences and thoughts will help someone, and someone else's will help you. In our newsgroup we strive to respond to every initial post made by a newcomer. Therefore, even if you are brand-new yourself, please jump right in and help us meet that goal. You don't have to have 10 years of freedom from smoking to tell someone who is having a bad craving, "Hang in there, we are rooting for you!" In fact, the person with 3 smokeless days behind her can be the best help to someone in their first hours of quitting; and the one who's going through the first hours can help remind those with months and years of smobriety behind them why they don't want to start smoking again. Venting one's frustrations is encouraged in this group, and you are certainly welcome to pour your heart out. We do ask, however, that you keep the flames (angry or testy replies) to a minimum. Usually, prefacing a controversial or alternate opinion with "IMO" or "IMHO" ("in my [honest] [humble] opinion"), or qualifying with "YMMV" ("your mileage may vary") or "in my experience ..." will keep the fur from flying. John Diedrichs (johnd@asiaonline.net.tw) offers some words of wisdom on the topic of virtual communication [taken from a longer post on Usenetiquette]: "Communicating without misunderstandings is hard enough when you're standing face-to-face and speaking the same language. It's harder when you're on the telephone. Here in Usenet, it's almost like two tin cans tied together with a string. Add to that the linguistic and stylistic differences that go with all the different flavors of English spoken by so many around the world, and it makes for a very "interesting" form of communication. "And, since we cannot *hear* your voice over Usenet, it can help if you use 'emotional punctuations' like smileys :-) grins winks ;-) and frowns :-( in your writing. This helps to avoid misunderstandings. "Happy quitting to all... and to all a good life!" 3. What are the basic rules of "Netiquette"? [An excellent site for learning about Usenet, Netiquette, and the Internet generally is Brendan Kehoe's Zen and the Art of the Internet at: http://www.cs.indiana.edu/docproject/zen/zen 1.0_toc.html] There are a few courtesies with which posters are asked to comply throughout Usenet generally. They fall under the blanket term "Netiquette" (Usenet etiquette), a simple code of behaviour which developed for practical reasons. Here's a quick rundown: a. Lurking. In most newsgroups, you are requested to "lurk" (read but not post) around a newsgroup for a few days before joining the conversation. By lurking, you get a feel for a group's character, its conventions, and the people who post to it. You don't have to do this in AS3! Jump right in and post as often and as much as you need to, BUT if you're thinking of posting to an ongoing argument or an angry thread which seems to focus on personalities and not on smoking/quitting issues, it might be a good idea to hold that post aside for a day or two, before you join the fray. In fact, the best defense is often no defense. See "Flaming," below. b. Flaming. To flame someone is to insult them, their post, their dog, etc. Flaming someone who posts to the group in order to sell something is a time-honoured AS3 tradition which can help you release your anger and frustration. Go ahead! It's always open season on Composters (just be sure that's what you've got in your sight). But it helps no one when you flame your fellow AS3 members. Your flame will in turn get a flaming response, a flame war ensues, and soon the "support" in "alt.support.stop-smoking" goes out the window. The best way to put the fire out is to not feed it. c. Cross-posting A cross-post is one that has been directed (i.e., in the To line of the header) to more than one newsgroup. If it is necessary for you to cross-post, then do so; if not, avoid it - it can cause trouble. Often people don't look at the headers of posts and therefore don't realize that you've cross-posted. Suppose you wanted to send fan mail to Will Wheaton and you asked for his address in both rec.tv.star-trek and alt.wesley crusher.die.die.die ? You can imagine the ensuing fireworks caused by bringing these two groups together. The thing to remember about a cross-post is that whenever anyone follows-up to the thread, that post is also going to all the other groups in the header. You can avoid this by checking the header of your reply and deleting any groups not appropriate to your reply. d. Quoting It is often necessary to include some of the post to which you're replying when you follow-up, because you'll want some context in order for your comment to make sense. But it is seldom necessary to quote the *entire* post. Cutting out any text you don't need saves bandwidth (what information travels on from one computer to another) and helps the Internet community in two ways: first, it saves your readers time (and often money) by not making them download any more bytes than necessary; and second, the less information crowding the bandwidth, the faster and smoother the Internet operates for everyone. e. Posting E-mail IMHO, it's just plain rude to post private e-mail. If someone is sending you aggravating, harassing, or threatening e-mail and they don't stop when you ask them to, complain to their Internet provider. You can usually reach someone's ISP by mailing postmaster@; or you can look for the ISP's home page on the WWW, which will usually offer links to the e-mail addresses of their staff. If that fails, contact the staff at your own ISP and ask them to filter out that person's mail. 4. How do I access the newsgroup? I wish I could tell you. How you access Usenet (the newsgroup branch of the Internet) depends upon factors such as which operating platform you use, which software for newsreading you have, and how your Internet Service Provider (ISP) has configured things. Most ISPs provide on-line help; try looking there for instructions on how to subscribe to a newsgroup. If that doesn’t work, there are websites which serve as gateways to newgroups (remarq.com and deja.com are the two most familiar ones). Otherwise, consult the staff at your ISP, another user at your ISP, or your computer guru. Don't be scared off, though - it isn't as complicated as it sounds. :) 5. Why Alt.Support.Stop-Smoking? Posted by Ian Fraigun, August 1995: "Joyce, you have hit exactly on why this group has seen so much success among its posters, even those with a number of relapses before final success. First, everyone here is going, or has recently or not so recently gone, through the exact same thing. Second, nobody will give you negative judgements if you do slip or relapse, just encouragement to get back on the wagon. Third, cussing ranting raving whining and all those other no-no's in polite society are accepted here if it helps get you through the night or day or hour or minute or whatever. Last, besides the great suggestions and helpful information, we can get to see people with as little willpower as we have who are succeeding, and that builds our resolve and determination in the tough times so we can continue on our quest. I can still think of at least 5 occasions where just the thought of the people here and telling them I had slipped was the only thing that kept me from bumming and smoking one. I might still be where I am today but surely not without a number of slips on the path. Nothing I have ever seen before has had the impact on me that this group has and I will be around for many years because I see the support and kind words keeping me smoke-free the rest of my life." 6. I need help! Why isn't anyone answering my post? AS3 is an unmoderated Usenet group. That means that your post goes directly to the group, not through another person (a "moderator"). Posts are never screened, cancelled, or altered by anyone except the original poster. Also, no one on the group can control the flow of posts. But sometimes there are problems on newsservers, and posts don't appear in a timely fashion (or sometimes at all). Posts generally appear on your own server before they show on anyone else's, so don't be discouraged if your post isn't answered right away. Another possibility is that you don't have your newsreader set to display enough articles. If you feel panicked because you need an answer or just someone to moan to, e mail a group member - any or several of us who seem like people you might want to talk to. 7. Who runs the group? Well, no one, in fact, and everyone. It's a self-monitored anarchy in the fine tradition of Usenet. But there are people who handle, voluntarily, various administrative functions. If you have a comment or would like to know more about any of these areas, here are the people to contact: The Webmaster of the AS3 Home Page on the WWW is: Barry Pekilis, as3@swen.uwaterloo.ca The WebPage Editor of the AS3 Home Page on the WWW is: Victoria, Vic@Netgrrl.com The Webmaster of the AS3 European Mirror location on the WWW is: David Probert, Dave@Valecam.com Editor of the FAQ and COMPOST: Ray Bannon, bannonr@Mx.serv.net If you would like to contribute to or comment upon the FAQ contact him at the address above Anything relating to the Quit List or the Milestones List, including requests to be added to the QL, contact: Nicole Vanderpool, Nicole@Fastbytes.com If you would like to see the group's policy on commercial posting, link to it through the AS3 home page. And special thank yous go to: Nigel Bamford Creator and original keeper of the first AS3 WWW Home Page Eric Stoneking Former FAQ and COMPOST poster Ian Fraigun Former FAQ and COMPOST Poster and Editor Bob Munzenrider AS3 Newsgroup Organizer; our Founding Father :) John Nobel Creator and original keeper of the FAQ and the QUIT LIST Liorah Golomb Former maintainer and poster of the QUIT LIST and MILESTONES and Former Editor of the FAQ and COMPOST Nadav Vissel, Carol Clark, Judy Marshall, and Lorraine Former maintainers and posters of the QUIT LIST and THE MILESTONES John Diedrichs WebMaster of the prior Asia Mirror Sites. and to every AS3 member, past, present, and future. 8. Does AS3 have a political agenda? Emphatically NOT. Our only focus is on recovering from nicotine addiction. Though one may engage in the occasional rant, and information (from the Tobacco BBS, for example) is always welcome, we avoid engaging in discussions on topics such as smokers' rights, second-hand smoke, or the relative merits of the use of or abstention from tobacco products. If you're looking for a heated emotional argument of such topics, there are other newsgroups for that purpose. 9. What's the discussion like? Are you all biting each other's heads off in a nicotine-withdrawal frenzy? Not usually. :) Not only are we civil in general, but time and time again, people call us the friendliest group on Usenet. We do a lot of cheering each other on, but we also provide information and the benefit of our experiences. Here's a sample of a typical thread: [Many snips throughout ....] Bob: "I have the impression that [people quitting] imagine that when it's all gone, they will be over 'physical' withdrawal, whatever that means -- as though the nicotine is causing withdrawal symptoms. Actually, I believe the absence of nicotine is what causes the withdrawal symptoms, so that they never really end; it's more like you find a way to deal with them, until eventually you don't regard them as nicotine withdrawal symptoms any more." Nat: "Bob, very perceptive. I think, though that we readjust and find normal/healthy coping strategies. Nicotine allows us to artificially cope with stuff. I think many of us are developmentally impaired because of this." Mona: "Hi, Bob, "While I don't disagree with Nat, I want to express my opinion, FWIW. "Of course, it's the nicotine ingested over time that makes us addicted, which means our bodies are chemically dependent upon receiving more/continued nicotine. When we quit smoking, we deprive our bodies of the nic they've gotten addicted to. So, in the beginning of the quit, as you say, it's the absence of nicotine that creates the withdrawal symptoms -- because we are addicted. "However, for me and for many others, even the initial quitting days are not primarily about physical withdrawal. And, even for those who experience a hard physical withdrawal from the absence of nicotine, after the first week or two (or whenever, it varies by the person) it's a mental fight. "I think that staying smober involves looking at why I smoked, what it 'did' for me, or, rather, what I imagined it did for me. I think this is what the 'old timers' mean by 'mentally prepare for your quit'. "So, until and unless we re-orient our view of the cigs, we will always feel deprived,though it will have little or nothing to do with nicotine. It'll have to do with having viewed the cig, for all those years we smoked, as a reward, as a time-out, as a 'safe distance' mechanism, as a cool-down-from-stress vehicle, etc., etc. My experience during the nine years I was smober was that I almost never thought about cigs in any way remotely like I wanted one. In fact, that quit, after even the first couple months, I was so damned proud of myself that even if the junkie old part of myself momentarily thought it wanted a cig, I was clear that I was very happy to be a non-smoker, and that 'urge' just went away, nearly instantly. "Of course, the fact I'm here, quitting again, the 13th time in my life, is proof that on some days, nearly anyone can be unconscious or stupid or downhearted enough that the cig devil sees his opportunity -- the old junkie (me) who used the cig as emotional comfort encourages one to have one, don't worry, you've quit all these years, you don't have to smoke tomorrow, just let yourself have one now, when you 'need it'. HAH! "I hope I'll never be that unsuspecting again! I hate quitting, and love being smober, after I get through the re-orient my mind part, again." 10. When can I start posting? You don't have to lurk until the day you quit; if you've begun to think about quitting, you should feel free to introduce yourself and jump into the discussion, if you desire. It doesn't matter if you're still smoking. Quitting is a process, not an event, and thinking about quitting is Step 1! 11. What are some of the quirky phrases and eccentricities I'll find on AS3? During the life of the newsgroup certain phrases and customs unique to AS3 have developed. They are, among others I may have overlooked: Clubs, Groups, 1010ers, Septenders, Rising Spirits, etc. Often, a few people decide to quit on the same day and they form a subgroup of quit buddies. The first of these (in my recollection) were the 1010ers (The First Generation), a group who quit on 10 October 1994. "Smobriety" This term is taken from the 12-step program Nicotine Anonymous, and refers to smoke-free existence. "Baby Steps" A philosophy introduced by group member Mary Jane Patterson that encourages people to overcome the obstacles of smoking cessation one baby step at a time. It worked for Mary Jane, who has been smober since September 1994! “FWD”, “OF”, “DOF”, “VOF” Various important milestones in a person’s quit. FWD is First Week Done, frequently one of the most satisfying milestones for a quitting smoker who previously couldn’t have imagined going a day without a cigarette, much less a week. It also marks, especially for those quitting cold turkey, the end of the period with the most intense drug withdrawal symptoms. “OF” is an Old Fogie; you become an OF upon the first anniversary of your quit. It involves a great deal of hooplah and signifies your admittance to the AS3 Hot Tubs and, frequently, fabulous virtual prizes by those in the group! “DOF” is Double Old Fogie, received on the second anniversary. “VOF” is Very Old Fogie, signifying those who have reached their third or greater anniversary. Year/Month/Week/Day/Hour/Minute/Second-O-Meter This appears after some people's signatures and measures time since the last cigarette smoked (or plug chewed, etc.). For someone who had 3 weeks, 2 days, and 4 hours of smoke free time behind them, the meter would look something like this: 3w2d4h. Whether you keep track of your time or not is completely up to you! Some people prefer not to. 12. Where can I get one of those nifty meters? Not only are AS3 subscribers intelligent, witty, sympathetic and well-informed ... they're also creative! Several meter programs designed for and by AS3'ers are available, free of charge - just remember to credit the creator if you pass the meter around. You can get any of them as instructed, or if that fails, by e-mailing the author. At minimum, the meters calculate data such as the time you've been smober, how many cigarettes you haven't smoked, and how much money you've saved since you quit. Several have other features as well. a. For Windows: You have a number of choices: The original meter, written as an Excel spreadsheet by Dennis Harrigan (dennisj@voicenet.com), can be downloaded from http://www.voicenet.com/~dennisj/ Another meter for Windows 3.x is by Richard Geis (rmgeis@erols.com) and can be found at http://www.erols.com/rmgeis/quit.htm David Probert's meter, for Windows 95/NT4 only, can be downloaded from http://www.silkquit.org It's a stand alone writtenin C++, no extra DLL's, small, and fast. It sits on your Task Bar and just counts...... :) LastQuit bu Troy Thompson for windwows 95 is available at http://www.oz.net/~longshot/ You could give Smooky! a try, running like a small icon (or in the taskbar) with an easy to use menu. Downloadable from http://come.to/smooky/(*) written by Steven 'Goofy' de Brouwer (Goofy@stack.nl). b. For the Mac: If you're running System 7 or better and have Apple's HyperCard Player (usually included in the system software), try Brian Sheafer's Quitometer stack. It updates each time you enter the program and keeps track of time quit (down to the second, and/or expressed as a total number of days), money saved, and cigarettes not smoked. You can have the results pasted to a clipboard for use in your .signature file, for example. Download the Quitometer from http://www.casema.net/~smak There is also an Excel spreadsheet quit meter which is available. Email the FAQ editor (bannonr@serv.net) for a copy. A Mac version of “Silkquit” (also to be available for Linux and other platforms) is forthcoming. c. For Dos: The old-die-hards, who still use DOS, can also get a DOS-version of Smooky!, called DOSmooky!, written by Steven 'Goofy' de Brouwer (Goofy@stack.nl). Visit http://come.to/dosmooky/ (*) (*) or try the alternatives: http://www,stack.nl/~goofy/Smooky/ http://www.stack.nl/~goofy/DOSmooky/ 13. How can I tell if I'm addicted and what does it take to become addicted? The World Health Organization uses these guidelines to diagnose nicotine dependence: ICD-10 copyright =A9 1992 by World Health Organization. Internet Mental Health (www.mentalhealth.com) copyright =A9 1995-1996 by Phillip W. Long, M.D. A definite diagnosis of dependence should usually be made only if three or more of the following have been experienced or exhibited at some time during the previous year: a. a strong desire or sense of compulsion to take tobacco; b. difficulties in controlling tobacco-taking behaviour in terms of its onset, termination, or levels of use; c. a physiological withdrawal state when tobacco use has ceased or been reduced, as evidenced by: the characteristic withdrawal; syndrome for tobacco; or use of the same (or a closely related) substance with the intention of relieving or avoiding withdrawal symptoms; d. evidence of tolerance, such that increased doses of tobacco are required in order to achieve effects originally produced by lower doses; e. progressive neglect of alternative pleasures or interests because of tobacco use, increased amount of time necessary to obtain or take the substance or to recover from its effects; f. persisting with tobacco use despite clear evidence of overtly harmful consequences, such as depressive mood states consequent to periods of heavy substance use, or drug-related impairment of cognitive functioning; efforts should be made to determine that the user was actually, or could be expected to be, aware of the nature and extent of the harm. I don't know about anyone else, but I experienced all of these symptoms, for 23 years. According to studies, addiction can be instituted very easily: "The Nicotine Addiction Trap: A 40-year sentence for four cigarettes" can be found in British Journal of Addiction 1990 (85), 293-300, M.A.H. Russell.) What this study boils down to is statistics that point to this conclusion: Addiction is likely to occur in 3 out of 4 smokers, who will still be smoking 40 years later, after smoking 4 cigarettes no further than 1 week apart, up to 100 cigarettes, at which addictive "need" has occurred--that is, need occurs between 4 and 100 smoked. The first four cigarettes break down the typical physical revulsion and physically prepare the stage for addiction to occur.(There apparently some-very, very small number-- who are seemingly addiction resistant, probably to anything) So it is NOT how long one smokes--it's a matter of numbers, a matter of "hits" when the invisible line is crossed, and 100 cigarettes are the maximum number needed, and incredibly, as few as four. One can see how valuable this knowledge was to Tobacco when their own behavioral scientists discovered this--we know from the Viking Project Sixteen in Canada of 16-year olds, that the criteria for the teen participating in this study was that they smoke at least 4 cigs a day. So between these studies, we can see it happens fast, and giving free samples is all but a guarantee of the sought-after and desired addiction, and the younger the better. 14. When I quit, will I be a NON- or an EX-smoker? Whether you call yourself a non-smoker or an ex-smoker is entirely up to you - but you'll probably have a preference. This matter of nomenclature is a surprisingly emotional issue! Some people use "ex-smoker" to remind them that they are only "a puff away from a pack a day," or to remind the world of what they have overcome. Others feel that the more they can act like a person who has never had the smoking habit, the more likely they are to be a person who never returns to that habit, and they designate themselves "non smokers." Throughout this FAQ, when referring to a person who once smoked and no longer does, I generally use "non-/ex-smoker," or if I use one and not the other, that should not be taken as being preferential. 15. What is the Quit List? The Quit List is a list of members' names, e-mail addresses, and dates of quitting. It is posted to AS3 weekly by Nicole Vanderpool, Nicole@Fastbytes.com. The list serves as a group directory, and also gives many people a sense of commitment, accountability, and joy as they see newer quitters join the list, pushing their entry down. There is no obligation to be included on the list. But if you want to be, ask the current maintainer of the QL, to put you on whenever you feel ready: before your quit date, once you've established one; the week of your quit date; or at any point afterwards. Nicole is also the person to contact when your information changes. To guarantee that she sees your requests and updates, contact her by e-mail rather than via the group. Also, please do not ask to have someone added to the list without their consent; this has been known to backfire. 16. What is the Milestones List? The Milestones List honours, each week, those members who will be achieving smoke-free monthly milestones by announcing their names and smoke-free time. (That's calendar month, not each quitter's 4 weeks - that would be too burdensome to keep track of.) It is also maintained and posted by Nicole Vanderpool. The Milestones are taken from the Quit List; therefore, you must be on the QL in order to appear on the ML. 17. What is the AS3 COMPOST ? The "COMPOST" is the AS3 newsgroup's Policy On Commercial Posting. Thepolicy, posted each week along with this FAQ, clearly states the AS3 policy AGAINST making commercial posts to this SUPPORT newsgroup, and warns of the consequences of doing so. "Commercial" is defined very broadly. It is fascinating to watch "the friendliest group on the 'Net" turn into a bunch of profane, rabid attack beasts when we catch the scent of a "composter." 18. Where can I find the AS3 WWW homepage? You've probably already found it! But in case you found this FAQ from the newsgroup: AS3 now has a mirror site in Europe, so access the one most convenient to you. Here are the URLs: * http://www.swen.uwaterloo.ca/~bpekilis/as3/as3.html (Canada) * http://www.silkquit.org/as3/ (Denmark) 19. What archived material compiled by the AS3 newsgroup can I get free of charge? The AS3 Archive contains classic posts, most of which originally appeared on the AS3 newsgroup. It is available from the website, and has grown so large that we no longer list each title in the FAQ. However, these are the categories into which they've been divided, to give you an idea of what you can find in the Archive: * AS3 Most Memorable Posts * The Father Don Collection * The Carolina Collection * AS3 Poems Collection * AS3 Quotes Collection * Self-Help Collection * Science Posts * Press Releases * Cigarette Company Mentality 20. Are there other related groups or information sources? There are now numerous resources available on the WWW dealing with every aspect of tobacco use and addiction. In no particular order, some great places to start: LIVE-ISH You can chat in real time with AS3 folks at pretty much any hour of the day or night, 365 days a year, thanks to the wonders of I(nternet) R(elay) C(hat). Because these chats move around from time to time, it would be impossible for me to keep the FAQ current with the correct channels, but there is a posting weekly of FAQ's for IRC which provides information on where to chat. Look for the one posted along with these FAQ's during each weekend. For complete information on IRCs generally, see . OTHER NEWSGROUPS: Very recently, the Usenet group alt.recovery.nicotine was formed. If you're interested in the 12 Steps method of recovery, you may find this group works very well in conjunction with AS3. Some information from the group's Charter: Purpose: To provide a place for people to share their experience, strength, and hope concerning recovery from addiction to nicotine. To provide a forum for the submission of articles, stories, and inquiries dealing with nicotine addiction and recovery. Posts of the following types are expected: * Questions concerning nicotine addiction and recovery. * Announcements of conferences, gatherings, new meetings, etc. * Experiences related to quitting the use of nicotine. * Success stories from those who have quit. * Concerns related to quitting. * News from Nicotine Anonymous groups around the world. For more information, contact the proponent of alt.recovery.nicotine: Bill P. WEBSITES This is just to get you started. Visit the AS3 WWW page for more links to health, addiction, and related sites THE VIRTUAL OFFICE OF THE U.S SURGEON GENERAL includes newly released (6/2000) guidelines on smoking cessation as well as interviews. Many of the documents are available as PDF (Adobe Acrobat Reader) files which can be downloaded and printed: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/ STOP SMOKING NOW - http://www..homestead.com/markjordan/stopsmokinga.html An online self-help book. KICK THE HABIT - http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/kth/habitkicker.shtml The BBC's stop smoking website. Lots of info and a addiction game...kind of the British version of the Nicodemon. Nice interface. Miss Maggie would approve... THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL “TIPS” (Tobacco Information and Prevention Source.” - http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/ Lots o’ resources including special sections on Tips for Kids and Tips for Teens: THE MASTER ANTI-SMOKING PAGE - http://www.autonomy.com/smoke.htm Remember, it's anti-smoking, not anti-smoker; don't get too worked up about the name, just enjoy the resources. This page attempts to link to every related site on the Internet and includes gopher sites and Usenet. It also offers the Smoke No More Forum, for the interactiveexchange of thoughts. THE NO SMOKE CAFE - http://www.clever.net/chrisco/nosmoke/cafe.html A cool, smoke-free place to hang and chat. TOBACCO BBS - NEWS AND RESOURCES - http://www.tobacco.org/ The granddaddy of hard-news information resources, garnered from the media, medical journals, and other (fairly) respectable sources. Centred mostly around U.S. news and politics, but trying to expand its geographic focus. The place to look to keep up with the action in Washington, D.C. Also contains excellent links. NICNET: THE ARIZONA NICOTINE AND TOBACCO NETWORK - http://www.medlib.arizona.edu/~pubhlth/tobac.htm More great links and news from places like the National Cancer Institute; reports on studies of various quitting tools and methods; home of a free discussion list, TOBACTALK: Sharing Ideas and News (see NicNet page for a link to subscribe). Don't forget to see those once-secret tobacco company documents! ACTION ON SMOKING AND HEALTH (ASH) HOME SITE - http://ash.org/ In their concise words, "a [U.S.] national organization devoted solely to the problems of smoking and to protecting nonsmokers' rights." Good information on lobbying efforts in particular, and samples from their bimonthly newsletter; but be aware, this is a lobbyist group, and they require a contribution of $15US or more for much of their information. Considering how much more spending power the tobacco lobbyists have, you may decide it's worth contributing the savings of your first unpurchased carton of cigarettes. SELF-HELP & PSYCHOLOGY MAGAZINE has a peer discussion forum including the topic Nicotine. The forum is located at http://www.shpm.com/phorum/index.php3 RUSH NORTH SHORE MEDICAL CENTER - Joel Spitzer, who runs smoking prevention and cessation programs in the northern Illinois area for the past 28 years, has a collection of reinforcement letters on numerous aspects of the nicotine addiction, including the medical, psychological, social and economic implications of smoking. Links to some of these letters are provided below. http://www.skokienet.org/rnsmc/ntapindx.html SMOKING FROM ALL SIDES - http://www.cs.brown.edu/people/lsh/smoking.html Many more items on the side of ceasing tobacco use, than there are in favor of using it. Smoking, dipping, etc. are becoming very difficult practices to defend. SELF-HELP PSYCHOLOGY MAGAZINE (formerly Practical Psychology Magazine) - http://cybertowers.com/selfhelp/ An online general psychology publication dedicated to the art of living well - off the net. They carry various types of information and services, which include a full department on Addictions (including nicotine). Articles are posted monthly in an easily-read, "how-to" format. Your feedback is strongly encouraged. ALT.SUPPORT.STOP-SMOKING WEB PAGE - http://www.swen.uwaterloo.ca/~bpekilis/as3 The home page of "the friendliest group on the net.":) BUD ELLIS’ Homepage - http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ranch/6100/ Bud Ellis was a special contributor to the AS3 newsgroup and IRC channel until his death on August 23, 1998. His site contains much room for hope and a lot of room for reality. “HE WANTED YOU TO KNOW” - http://www.sptimes.com/News/61599/Floridian%20copy/He_wanted_you_to_know.shtml This page is part of the St Petersburg, Florida Times online containing the truly tragic story of a 33 year old young man who died of lung and liver cancer two months after his diagnosis. Not for the squeamish, this may provide some encouragement in your quit; a little aversion therapy can go a long way. A PERSONAL BATTLE WITH CIGARETTE ADDICTION - http://homepages.go.com/~cikku/smoking/smoking.htm Frank Sciciuna’s website in Australia concerning his battle to quit his 43 year long 50 cigarette a day habit. Encouragement for all. Newbies may find this especially helpful. OFF THE WWW: NOSMOKE - A discussion list for support to people who want to quit smoking cigarettes, cigars or stop using smokeless tobacco products. It is for people who want to quit, are already quit, or anyone supporting a significant other who would like to quit. This list was previously called smokefree on a different server. Subscription instructions: To subscribe, please send a message to nosmoke-subscribe@onelist.com OR go to nosmoke's onelist web site http://www.onelist.com/community/nosmoke 21. Can you recommend any books on quitting smoking? The bulk of this brief bibliography is courtesy of Pete Dako. If you can recommend others, particularly in languages other than English, please e-mail liorah@interport.net. CAUTION. PLEASE NOTE (and I can't overemphasize this): these recommendations fulfill the requirements of the Compost in every way: they are available through libraries and from bookshops, and no one in the group profits from their use or sale. It is acceptable to recommend a published title that fits these requirements; it is not acceptable to advertise one's own book, or to advertise on behalf of an associate. * Riley, Gillian. How to stop smoking and stay stopped for good (London: Vermilion, c1992). 144 pp. * Holmes, Peter, and Peggy Holmes. Out of the ashes: help for people who have stopped smoking. (Minneapolis, Minn.: Deaconess Press, 1992). 280 p. * Farquhar, John W. and Gene A.Spiller. The last puff: ex smokers share the secrets of their success. (New York : W.W. Norton, 1990.) *Rustin, Terry A., M.D. Keep Quit! A Motivational Guide to a Life Without Smoking. (Hazeldon, 1996) * Rogers, Jacquelyn, You can stop smoking. (Pocket Books, 1995). 304 pp. *Carr, Allen. The Easy Way To Stop Smoking (Penguin, 1987). *Carr, Allen. The Only Way To Stop Smoking Permanently (Penguin, 1995). Deals with other drug addictions as well as nicotine addiction. [from Pete Dako] In addition to those books, once I'd gone through early withdrawal I found books with more political focus about the tobacco industry really motivated me to never start smoking again. Specifically: Merchants of Death: The American Tobacco Industry, 1988 by Larry C. White The Cigarette Underworld, 1985, edited by Alan Blum M.D. Gilded Leaf : Triumph, Tragedy, and Tobacco : Three Generations of the R J Reynolds Family and Fortune by Patrick Reynolds, Tom Shachtman, 1989 Smokescreen : The Truth Behind the Tobacco Industry Cover-Up by Philip J. Hilts. 1996. Hooked But Not Helpless by Patricia Allison Happy Reading! 22. Is there anything fun about quitting smoking? Sure! You'll be among a wonderful and varied group of people, many with a great sense of humour. Here's a sample: Smoking quotes contributed by "Father Don" : I phoned my dad to tell him I had stopped smoking. He called me a quitter. - Steven Pearl OF COURSE I'm your friend, Albert - An' I'll STILL be your friend even if you KEEP ON smokin'... Jes' not for as LONG is all... - Pogo, "Walt Kelley's Pogo" strip (Doyle and Sternecky) Quitting smoking is easy, I've done it hundreds of times. - Mark Twain I have seen many a man turn his gold into smoke, but you are the first who has turned smoke into gold. - Queen Elizabeth I to Sir Walter Raleigh I'll tell you why I like the cigarette business. It cost a penny to make. Sell it for a dollar. It's addictive. And there's a fantastic brand loyalty. - Warren Buffett, new head of Salomon Brothers investment firm. What did you answer when you very first died and that angel asked you if you preferred smoking or non-smoking? - Man in Hell to another, "Bizarro" cartoon by Dan Piraro ----------------------------------------------------------------- Thoughts to close the Alt.Support.Stop-Smoking FAQ, Part 1: Cigarettes bring temporary relief of the symptoms caused by the use of cigarettes. - Unknown; posted by Carolina Johnson Smoking is a chronic disease and quitting is a process. Relapse and remission are part of the process. As long as you're continuing to make progress toward the ultimate goal of being smoke-free, you should feel good about your achievement. - Psychology Today Magazine. Please go on to Part 2.