Four celebrities pass quit smoking challenge

Nicotine gum for Amanda & Vitto; cold turkey for Rica & Epy

Four celebrities have successfully said goodbye to cigarettes after participating in the "Kick it! Beat it!" quit smoking advocacy campaign in support of the smoking cessation program of the Department of Health (DoH) and sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare.

Model Amanda Griffin, actor Epy Quizon, actress Rica Peralejo, and sports caster Vitto Lazatin successfully kicked the smoking habit after undergoing a 40-day smoke free challenge as part of the Kick it! Beat it! campaign. During the challenge, which started on August 23 and ended on October 1, the celebrities went through regular weekly quit smoking check points to monitor their progress and to determine the level of carbon monoxide (CO) in their system.

DoH Secretary Francisco Duque congratulated the four celebrities and recognized them as role models in winning over the smoking addiction. "I congratulate our four celebrities for successfully quitting smoking. We know that it is such a difficult habit to break given its addicting nature. We hope that this exercise will inspire more Filipinos that they too can stop smoking. I welcome Amanda, Epy, Rica and Vitto as advocates in promoting a smoke free lifestyle," said Secretary Duque.

The Kick it! Beat it! Smoke Free Celebrity Challenge demonstrated the different ways of overcoming the habit such as counseling, going "cold turkey" or using a nicotine gum, a form of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) that effectively reduces cravings and withdrawals felt during the quitting period.



In doing the challenge, Rica and Epy relied on sheer willpower and strong determination to break the habit.

Epy admitted that it has been a mental challenge for him to break the habit, but the strong desire to stop smoking for his and his loved one's sake has helped him fend off the urges to smoke. "It is really all in the mind," said Epy.

Rica also swears by strong willpower to shake the habit. She said, "Two weeks felt like forever. I didn't want to go on anymore and thought it was one big mistake to do the challenge. Then I stopped thinking and completely surrendered. I just did a whole lot of talking to my G-O-D and just like magic, it went away! All I needed to do was admit that I can't do it on my own and He helped me. Now, I'm so happy to be smoke-free!"

Meanwhile, both Amanda and Vitto used a nicotine gum in their quitting journey. "Quitting is one of the hardest things to do. But it is a must for our health and those around us. The challenge was not easy especially during the first week, but the nicotine gum helped me a lot. I am seeing the benefits of going smoke free and hope to continue this," said Amanda.

"I'm thankful that I was given this opportunity. I make the decision to be a non-smoker every day and I'm taking it one day at a time. The nicotine gum was very helpful whenever I felt the cravings for a cigarette. I hope never to light another cigarette again," said Vitto.

Dr. Salvador Castañeda, medical consultant for Pfizer Consumer Healthcare who monitored the celebrities during the challenge, considered the celebrities already winners at the start of the campaign. "They are all winners from the start for having that determination to really kick and beat the habit. We are pleased to announce this big progress of our challengers from being smokers to being smoke-free individuals. We hope they will continue to remain smoke free even after the challenge," said Dr. Castaneda.

The challenge also showed that other than going for zero cigarettes at once, reducing to quit could be an option for those who find it difficult to stop abruptly. It helps heavy smokers eventually become smoke-free slowly, but effectively.

The culmination of the 40-day challenge does not signify the end of the celebrities' journey to smoking cessation. As part of the quit smoking campaign, they are scheduled to give talks before high school students to impart knowledge and their experience on bad effects smoking and the benefits of smoking cessation.

While smoking is the most common cause of premature death from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in the country, it is also a preventable risk factor. Statistics show that 69% of Filipino smokers have tried or are contemplating on quitting smoking. Quitting smoking may be the healthiest decision an individual can make for one's body and one's life.

For more information on quitting, you can also log on to www.nicorette.com.ph.