Hello, and welcome to this first issue of Quit Smoking Now, which in the future will be frequently referred to as QSN. We realize that it has been a long time coming, but we sincerely hope you find it worth the wait.

Why a newsletter like this, you may ask? Because we believe there should be a forum for those of us who are now, or have been, addicted to smoking, or any other form of use of tobacco products. While chewing and snuff are also problems, and cigar smoking is on the rise, cigarette smoking is by far the most deadly form of misuse for the weed. Therefore most of the articles found here shall deal with that aspect of the addiction.

The general theme of this publication is built around the Pulitzer Prize nominated book, "How to Quit Smoking Without Willpower or Struggle", authored by your humble editor. However, reading the book is not a necessity to understanding or gaining information from QSN. Contrarily, those who have not read the book may get the most help from QSN, as discussions arise about various aspects of the system proposed in the book. Further, the Letters to the Editor column will be supplemented by an Q & A column titled, "Ask Mark".

STEP BY STEP

Our main featured regular column is Step by Step. This column will suggest steps, or processes, one may take to move toward the total cessation of their tobacco addiction. While each month at least one step is offered by QSN, more steps that may be suggested by readers shall be published as well. But no step shall be suggested that requires denial of the urge to smoke, nor any to make a "cold turkey" effort. The main feature of the system offered in "How to Quit Smoking Without Willpower or Struggle", is that one may smoke every time the true urge strikes. At no time should one "fight" the nicotine craving. Still, there are things to do, questions to ask oneself, that may cause one to realize that they are not truly having an addictive urge, but a behavioral response urge (i.e. just something to do with your hands), which may easily be rejected at will.

The aim of QSN is to educate, inform, and provide a forum for smokers, and ex-smokers, and those working their way from one to the other.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR/"Ask Mark" Q & A

This is our forum wherein we invite everyone to make remarks or ask any question related to smoking, tobacco, tobacco companies, and all related issues. If we don't know the answer, we'll find it.

We also invite questions and/or comments from those who have loved ones who are smokers that have reject all efforts to see that they are committing a slow but certain form of suicide. While we don’t believe anyone can force another to become a non-smoker, we do believe that there are things that can be said or done to enlighten those with whom we have a relationship wherein their smoking is a detriment.

What about the patch? The gum? Vitamins, cigarette counting computers, mints, and the rest? These devices, and their assets and shortcomings shall be the topic of editorials of future issues of QSN. As we progress through the year, we will publish testimonials from those who have experienced this methods of helpers.

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Along with the rest of the features presented in QSN, we link to PrsMark Publishing's "Late Breaking Neews" page, which  displays current pertinent news about tobacco our research finds in all forms of media, including, but not limited to, the internet, the printed press, television, magazines, and radio.

THE CLASSIFIEDS