88 - The Michigan Daily Weeken Magazine - Thursday, March 27, 1996

9

The Michiganily WeekenI1



Putting out the.Fire
PHOTOSTORY BY JOHN KRAFT

Chewing on pens may satisfy Jeff's oral fixation, but he can't say much for the taste.

Whenever he's in need, LSA sophomore Jeff Davis always seems to have a friend to bail him out. In this
case, however, it might be more of a curse.

For many smokers, the reasons to quit are seemingly endless. What most smokers and non-
smokers alike fail to realize, however, is that quitting can be a daunting, nearly insurmount-
able task. For LSA sophomore Jeff Davis, the choice to quit has been nothing short of an
uphill battle.
"Quitting smoking was supposed to be my new year's resolution ... but I haven't been doing
well so far," he said.
During the course of almost three months, Davis has found out that quitting smoking is more
than kicking a habit. It is a struggle against not only physical addiction, but a psychological
one as well. "Smoking is more than physical (addiction). It's more of an oral fixation," he
said.
This fact became readily apparent when Davis attempted to quit using the assistance of the
nicotine patch method. Although he received the dosage of nicotine that his body was accus-
tomed to, the physical act of smoking was not nearly as negated. In fact, Davis has found that
he craves a cigarette the most while performing certain routine activities or being in certain
situations where it is only natural for him to light up a smoke. So far, chewing gum as well
as pens and pencils, substitute for cigarettes.
"I usually smoke when I'm studying, driving, sitting in a coffee house, or when I'm out with
friends who smoke," he said.
The pressure to quit comes from many aspects of his life. Davis's mother has been wanting
him to quit for years. She is an ex-smoker, and hopes that he will mend his ways as well. In
addition, Davis says that smoking has had a significant impact on his athletic performance.
He finds that his lung capacity is not what it used to be. Davis is also concerned about the
threat of lung cancer. He has been smoking for five years, and is worried that he may be sus-
ceptible to the disease in the long run.
Davis's situation is not hopeless. Rather, he has made significant progress. He no longer
smokes before lunchtime, and has cut down purchasing packs of cigarettes to every other
day. If he continues on the path he's on right now, he will be able to fully kick the habit when
he returns to University next fall. He says that to realize his goal, it will take the support of
not only his close friends and relatives but a strong commitment from himself as well.

It may seem like a good idea on paper, but Davis says nicotine patches never seem to work like they should.

Smoking and studying almost always go hand in hand.