The poll also found that two-thirds of current smokers (66.8 percent) have seriously tried to quit smoking at least once. On average, current smokers said they have tried 3.4 times to give up their habit. According to current smokers, stress was the primary obstacle to quitting for good (28.7 percent). Other respondents said they like to smoke too much (12.0 percent) or the craving was too strong (12.0 percent). Far fewer cited weight gain as a concern (5.4 percent) or said it's too late (0.6 percent).

Among current smokers, the most frequently tried method of quitting is gradually smoking fewer and fewer cigarettes before giving it up completely (an average of 3.9 times). Other popular smoking cessation techniques include switching to lighter cigarettes before quitting completely (an average of 2.6 times) or going cold turkey (an average of 2.6 times). These methods were followed by support groups in popularity: an informal support group of friends (2.4 times); help from one other friend also trying to quit (2.3 times); and formal support groups such as Nicotine Anonymous (1.9 times). Nicotine replacement therapies such as nicotine gum (1.7 times) and a nicotine patch (1.6 times) were lower on the list.

According to former smokers, health reasons or a major health episode finally prompted them to quit (53.0 percent). Family pressure was not as effective (11.6 percent), nor was choosing to quit at a particular time of year such as Lent or New Year's (0.0 percent). A majority of former smokers cited going cold turkey as the method they used to finally quit smoking (60.2 percent). The nicotine patch (4.0 percent) and nicotine gum (1.6 percent) were used by a significantly smaller number of former smokers. Only 2 percent of former smokers finally gave up their habit by gradually smoking fewer and fewer cigarettes before giving it up completely. Another 2 percent of smokers said they finally gave it up because it became too expensive to smoke.

Other Findings

1. Almost 1 in 5 current smokers (18.2 percent) have tried to hide the fact that they smoke as an adult. Most tried to hide it from their family members (81.3 percent). Almost 30 percent tried to hide it from their employers or coworkers (29.7 percent).
2. Women (25.3 percent) were more likely to hide their smoking habit than men (10.4 percent).
3. Smokers ages 18-34 were more likely to hide it than older smokers (29.6 percent).
   Current smokers (80.0 percent) were less likely to see smoking as a health hazard than former smokers (92.8 percent).

Hazelden Findings
The Hazelden Foundation has offered a residential nicotine cessation component in Center City, Minn., since 1990. Follow-up data has shown that 37 percent of people who go through Hazelden's program are nicotine-free one year later.