My wife and I tried 3 times and failed. She was Navy and got her tobacco
really cheaply so money wasn't an issue. At that time we were teaching
adventure training  and our "warning" was breathlesness at altitude.

On the 4th attempt at giving up (New Year's Eve), my 3 older boys were
all on leave from the Army and we all broke our cigarettes into pieces
on the living room floor as a resolution to no longer smoke. Seeing them
grovelling there on New Years Day came as a real eye-opener and giving
up was easy that time.

A few years later, when I had admitted to still "fancying" a smoke, my
wife related to me (vividly) that the 38yr old that she had been nursing
for a long time (frequent admission to her hospital) and who she was
very fond of, had just died from a smoking-related disease. She related
how his beautiful 12yr old twin daughters were at his bedside. She
illustrated their grief and how they would now be fatherless because of
his self-indulgence. She was not being judgemental but simply
demonstrating her sadness and bewilderment at life's harsh reality. I
clung to that till now and I suppose I still do, but it doesn't seem to
be enough atm. I have been kidding myself that I am safe by returning to
smoking at my age as any damage done will likely manifest at a time when
my life is almost run anyway.

I actually don't like myself atm because of this and I think that has to
be a primary factor in stopping. .........Ask yourself if what you are
doing is "right" and if it isn't, then ask yourself how do you feel
about that.

It probably *is* a substitute though (IMHO)

Aha! You like someone to suffer with you, eh? ;-)

kev