IT IS POSSIBLE TO QUIT SMOKING! Q

Watch the inspiring journey of six people who have conquered their personal Everest!

uitting smoking is a huge challenge for most smokers in India. As per the World Health Organization, over 900,000 people in India die due to tobacco consumption every year — it has been identified as the single biggest reason for non-communicable disease-related deaths*.

As per GATS-2 (Global Adult Tobacco Survey) India 2016-17, some 56% of male smokers planned to or were thinking about giving up the habit. For most of them, quitting smokingis no easy task. In fact, it’s as difficult as climbing a mountain — climbing Mt Everest, their personal Everest. However, it’s important to note that just like climbing the Everest, while a task might seem extremely difficult, it certainly isn’t impossible.

Nicotex has helped thousands of smokers on their journey to quit smoking. And, in order to inspire many more, Nicotex launched a unique show, ‘I Can You Can’, in partnership with Viu, an on-demand Internet content app, where the series is available to watch. The show had six participants — three teams, each comprising one aspiring quitter and an ex-smoker — on a trek to the Everest Base Camp, with the aspiring quitters aiming to conquer their personal Everest of quitting smoking. The show was hosted by none other than Milind Soman, India’s own Iron Man and an ex-smoker himself. Kasbekar, shared their quit stories, and invited others to share theirs as well. Many shared their stories across Nicotex social media assets, and six people with the best stories (three smokers trying to quit and three ex-smokers) were selected to undertake this unique journey to conquer not just the Everest Base camp but also their own personal Everest.

Milind Soman, model, actor, marathoner, hosted this six-part web series. As an ex-smoker and an inspiration to quitters, he supported the pairs through their journey to the Everest Base Camp. He said, “I took my first drag of a cigarette and, of course, I hated it, but soon I was smoking almost 30 cigarettes a day.” But once he realised that he needed to quit smoking, he slowly tried to give it up. Finally, after three years, he quit for good.

One of the participants, Sudeep Kumar, an aspiring quitter, shared his story: “I have been smoking for about 21 years now, and have tried quitting several times, but have always picked it up back again.” He also said that if he was able to undertake this journey to the Everest Base Camp, it would inspire him and give him the confidence that he can quit smoking, too.

But getting selected for the trek was not the end, just the beginning. The ultimate test was to dodge the urge to smoke while trekking up to the Everest Base Camp. So, their journey, besides being physically taxing, also involved a lot of mental restraint for the smokers and encouragement from the ex-smokers to stay off cigarettes. This entire inspiring journey was video documented and aired on National Geographic Channel.

So, for all smokers who want to quit and think it’s just not possible, think again. Nicotex is a nicotine gum that helps you quit smoking, using the principle of Nicotine Replacement Therapy.

A 12-week therapy programme using Nicotex can help you get back to an active life without dependence on nicotine.

Nicotex is available in two strengths: 2mg and 4mg. The 2mg strength is recommended for those who smoke 20 or fewer cigarettes per day. The 4mg strength is recommended for those who smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day, and it needs to be prescribed by a physician.

*(Ref: Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. GBD Compare: Global, deaths, Both sexes, All ages, 2010: University of Washington;2013[cited 2014 August 21])

PHOTOS: HTCS