This is a sponsored post. All opinions are, as always, 100% mine.
Because I vividly remember my Uncle Jack dying from emphysema, it meant a lot to me when CVS/Pharmacy stores announced, earlier this year, they were no longer selling tobacco.
That was a huge business decision, and I hope it will encourage consumers to make a huge personal decision — to stop smoking. And to make it easier to kick the habit, MinuteClinic — the medical clinic in CVS/Pharmacy stores — is offering vital support through its medically-based Start to Stop® smoking cessation program.
I wish it had been around when my uncle needed it.
Uncle Jack started smoking when he was in college and he began to have trouble breathing at the age of 70. He didn’t try to stop smoking until he was really ill and literally couldn’t breathe. By then, of course, it was too late.
He was 75 when he passed away and he smoked pretty much up to his last year. “He then became the biggest advocate against smoking,” my mom says. “I guess he finally accepted the fact that smoking was what was killing him.”
I know how hard it was for me to watch my uncle suffer and I can’t imagine how painful it was for my mother, who had also started smoking around the age of 18. The difference was that she gave it up at 22.
“My father smoked cigars, Uncle Jack and Uncle Bernie [her brother-in-law] smoked cigarettes and it was all very social,” she remembers. “I would take one and totally enjoy the relaxation it afforded me.”
At the time, my mom worked in a large office where almost everyone smoked. For four years, she guesses, she smoked a pack of cigarettes a day. Her fingers were turning yellow and her boss, a woman who didn’t smoke, would comment that she always smelled of smoke.
According to my mom, “In March of 1952, my father died of lung cancer and shortly after, I got the flu. I didn’t smoke for about a week. When I took a puff of that first stale cigarette, I put it down and decided it was time to stop. I never smoked again.”
I’m grateful that my mom made that difficult, probably life-saving decision to quit smoking and I’m grateful that MinuteClinic is making it easier for more people to do the same.
So many people have made New Year’s resolutions to be healthier, and MinuteClinic is more prepared than ever to help you achieve those goals. With their new “CVS Health” company name and the removal of tobacco from CVS/Pharmacy stores, they’ve truly become a trusted wellness resource.
MinuteClinic also offers a medically-supervised weight loss program in partnership with the DASH diet, the #1 ranked overall diet by U.S. World News & Report four years running, if you need to lose weight this year.
For those interested in beauty, make an appointment for MinuteClinic’s eyelash-lengthening consultation. They have a great program which will finally help you achieve those long lashes you’ve always coveted.
If you haven’t chosen a word for the year yet, you may want to consider #healthyourself. When it comes down to it, really, what better goal could there be for 2015?
i’ve never smoked but I always remember my dad smelling of smoke because he did. I always thought it was a nasty smell.
I quit cold turkey around 1991. I just did it. So glad I did, one less habit to break every new year!
Great post, Lois. As a former smoker, I can relate to what you’ve written. I hope any smokers who read this will stop smoking today. I also admire CVS for no longer selling tobacco in their stores. I wish other stores would follow their lead.
I never smoked, thank goodness – my son started in his 20’s and is trying to constantly quit – It’s a huge problem for so many – glad to hear that CVS no longer sells tobacco – amazing
I smoked briefly when I was younger. I started because of my peers and I thought it was cool. It was a hard habit to break, but I broke it. Now, I can’t stand the smell of smoke and I hope my children never chose to smoke.
I quit smoking almost 20 years ago and I still remember it being hard, even though I only smoked 1/2 a pack of ultra lights a day. I definitely admire CVS for not selling cigarettes anymore!
I’m so sorry to hear about your uncle. I lost my mom in 2001 when I was 16 and she 48 to lung cancer. She smoked most of her life. My husband, smokes he’s been trying and I say trying Very loosley bc he really isn’t doing all I think he can, to quit. So I totally get it. I wish no where sold cigarettes to be completely honest with you. So it’s wonderful CVS isn’t anymore!!
I quit smoking 5 years ago right before the holidays. I was just tired of being a hypocrite to my kids, telling them, “don’t smoke” and here I was hiding my little habit. I would go hide and smoke my cigarettes because I just felt it was gross to do in front of my children. I’m so grateful I quit. It sounds like Minute Clinic is trying to help people quit, which is great. Hopefully they are focusing on natural ways to quit.
I also really appreciate how CVS has taken a stand to support this. I don’t come from a family of smokers, but I married into one. Most have quit…and the ones who didn’t died of lung cancer. Sigh.
I’ve seen so many posts about picking a word for the year. I think it’s a great idea, but hadn’t been able to pick something that really rang true for me. Until now. I’m going with #healthyourself. It’s the year I make my health a priority. It’s not just for me, but for my family too.
Kudos to your mom for quitting. My dad smoked for 30 years, but then he got COPD and peripheral arterial disease. And pneumonia. That shook him up enough that he quit after being in intensive care for a week (in his late 60s). I’m very proud of him. It’s so hard to quit. Thanks for raising awareness.
Like Christine I quit twenty years ago. It was by far the hardest thing I ever had to do and worth all the hard work. I wish the best of luck to anyone who is trying to quit. I’m so glad that as a society we have almost eliminated that habit.
Awesome post – I know just who to pass this along to!
What?! An eyelash-lengthening consultation?! I may need to get me one of those! And pay more attention to my MinuteClinic emails.
Quitting is hard, but so important! My dad smoked for years, and he would quit for a while but always start back up. He died of cancer, and although it wasn’t lung cancer I am sure the smoking made it worse.
I remember when smoking was social too. I also remember people smoked in the house, or in cars w/the windows rolled up. I’m glad things are changing.
Smoking is one if the most common and most dangerous addictions . It is great to find a wsy to get free ,
I am trying to encourage my husband to do this. I’m referring him to CVS And it might help! He has lasted almost a week so far.
My mother smokes and I really wish I could help her to quit. She did once when I was younger. A few years ago my grandfather passed away from cancer and it started with lung cancer. It doesn’t seem to phase her. Sometimes I feel like she needs a detox program as she has been smoking for so long. I wish we had a CVS closer, maybe they could offer some advice.
My mother smoked when I was a kid and quit cold turkey! Thank god because smoking is just plain nasty.
So thankful I never started.
Even though my daughter is tired of hearing her dad and I tell her she needs to quit smoking, I need to show her this. I love Minute Clinic.
Good luck to all those trying to quit this year. I went cold turkey 4/5 years ago after smoking for many years. Sometimes still have the odd craving but definitely feel better for it.
I have never smoked because I watched both of my parents struggle with quitting. My Mom is almost 95 and still craves a cigarette! Great post!
What an epic decision by CVS. I hope more companies follow through – really sick of the amount of damage that easily accessible cigarettes are causing..
I’ve never smoked but my father did. We had wooden ashtray stands in the living room. They matched the furniture. Nasty habit.
when i first started teaching social psychology, and coming from North Carolina, I was often amused at the percentage of people who smoked in NC who stated that their reason for smoking was to support the local economy (63%). Self justification anyone?
More power to the quitters!!!! I can’t believe I can get an eyelash consultation!
Thankfully my husband and I have never been smokers. I think it’s a pretty disgusting habit and I hate how smokers always smell of cigarettes, their hair, their clothes…UGH! Kudos to CVS!
I quit a couple of years ago. It was the hardest thing I ever did, but the best thing I ever did.
CVS has really shown how committed to health it is. I’ve known many people who have had a lot of health issues related to smoking.
I’ve had multiple smokers in my family, but never smoked myself. It’s such a hard addiction. My dad has quit and re-started multiple times, despite the cancer it caused.
I smoked in high school then quit cold turkey before starting nursing school. My mom died of emphysema a few years ago. She would be in the house on her oxygen then take a smoke break outside. This is not a fun way to live. I now help people quit smoking as a RN Health Coach.
This is great news. It is so incredibly difficult to even TRY and help a seasoned smoker to quit smoking.
I have thankfully never smoked but both my parents smoked their whole life. My mother smoked from the time she was a teenager to the time she was forced to quit at her nursing home. She is 93 now and has not smoked for 3 years. I am so amazed that her life long smoking hasn’t cut her life short. I am in total support of anyone who makes the decision to be healthy and end the unhealthy habit
Wow, that’s a pretty big stand taken by CVS! Kudos to them! My grandfather also died of lung cancer, although his was more related to working in the coal mines for far too many years. Horrible disease either way.
I love when people see what cigarette does to their bodies and end up quitting. That’s great
I like all the clinics CVS offers. This program sounds great – I like how the got rid of selling cigarettes too!
I quit smoking in 2007 and I never looked back. I’m so glad that I was able to rid myself of this unhealthy vice.
Ugh, I smoked for many years and looking back I wish I had stopped earlier in life. Now that there is even more info, I am always shocked when people smoke. LOL
The fact that they’ve taken a stand like this is terrific news. A good reason to start shopping at CVS.
I know a lot of coworkers that are trying really hard to quit!
I quit 11 years ago. Best decision ever! My dad passed from lung cancer and that was something I was NOT going to do, if I could help it!
It took a lot of willpower for my dad to quit smoking. He finally did it for his family though 🙂
I think quitting smoking can be the best decision of someone’s life. It is such a major health changer and can be so beneficial!
I have heard great things about CVS’ weight loss program. It seems like an exceptional way to get healthy.
I stopped and started back again but very rarely do I smoke at home and never in front of the kids. Mostly 2 at the most at work.
I never smoked but have relatives that struggle with quitting. I am an RN and worked in ICU for years and know very well the impact that smoking has on a person. I wish everyone luck who is trying to quit.
We shop at CVS a lot and it was very noticeable when they stopped selling cigarettes. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to quit, but kudos to those who are making that a goal.
Quitting smoking is very difficult. My husband quit 3 years ago and he still talks about it. I’m sure he’d start again if I wouldn’t kill him.
Such a terrible habit that seems to hold people hostage. Ugh! People who make the commitment to break free should be supported!
I didn’t realize MinuteClinic offered smoking cessation and weight loss programs. That’s really great!
Minute Clinic is such a cool thing. They offer so many services!
I think I have been hearing about them for quite some time – I love how they always remind people to go things the healthy way.
I love that CVS stood up for what they believed in. It is amazing when a company lives what they preach. If you preach health, don’t sell cigarettes is an amazing message by a strong brand!