Kamran’s quit story
Kamran Ahmad is 42 and lives in Sheffield. He started smoking when he moved out of home and went to college. All of his friends smoked, and he wanted to fit in, so he started smoking and soon became addicted.
“Everyone around me was smoking and I wanted to fit in. It was a cool thing to do so I tried it. I wouldn’t have touched it if I knew the risks to your health.”
Kamran made several quit attempts as smoking reduced his sense of taste, gave him a cough, made him breathless and heightened his anxiety when he was unsure of when he could next have a cigarette.
“If I’d known the risks of smoking when I first started, I never would have had that first cigarette.”
I tried to quit a few times without any help, but after a few days I would find myself thinking about it again. I always had half-empty packets in my car and my pockets, so I ended up smoking those and that was it.
“Smoking was most difficult for me during Ramadan. Knowing that I couldn’t have a cigarette for hours was so tough and it was all I could think about. Instead of focusing on fasting, worshipping, praying and doing good deeds, your whole day is focused on the next time you will be able to have a cigarette.
“I knew I didn’t want to do that again, so I aimed to quit before the next Ramadan.”
Kamran quit smoking with support from his local stop-smoking service. He also used a vape to manage his cravings.
Since quitting, Kamran and his family are so pleased. He said: “My family are really proud of me and I’m proud of myself. Quitting smoking isn’t easy so it makes you feel so great when you manage it.
“If I could go back I’d tell myself not to fall into that trap. It’s not healthy and it will affect your health long term.”
