From acupunture to cold turkey, smokers try it all
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Feb 19/01) - Nobody likes a quitter -- unless of course, it involves kicking an all-consuming addiction that makes your eyes twitch.
Take Jim Currie for example. After 28 years on the receiving end of a cigarette, the Iqaluit resident decided to join the ranks of the non-addicted. Currie suspected he'd need some assistance so off he went to visit the local acupuncturist. Yes, the local acupuncturist.
A pro at pricking people, Elise Bohenier stuck needles in Currie's ears, forehead, wrists and ankles.
"Ears are the detoxification point of the body. By going there, you reach the kidney, liver and lungs," said Bohenier, who trained full-time in the Asian medicinal art for three years prior to opening her practice in 1999.
"It helps people quit, not just smoking, but alcohol and any kind of drugs," she said.
And while it might look a bit freaky and certainly appears painful, Currie said it wasn't so bad.
"You can feel the needles going in. There's a little bit of a prick, but it's not like getting pricked with a safety pin," said Currie, adding that the treatment helped rid him of symptoms associated with withdrawal -- namely nervousness, agitation and those nasty feelings of aggression.
He also admitted his surprise when he saw photographs of himself mid-session.
"When I saw the pictures I realized I had needles in places I didn't even know about," said Currie.
David Tulugak took the increasingly popular route of Zyban.
It would have been more successful if the Rankin Inlet resident hadn't forgotten to take his medication.
"I'd be there in the morning lighting a cigarette and that's when I'd remember about the pill," said Tulugak on day four of kicking the habit.
Designed as an anti-depressant that was later found to have nicotine cessation properties, Zyban makes users feel good while quitting.
"I was just on it for a week, but it made me feel good when I was taking it," said Tulugak, who has since traded in the magic pill for the magic patch.
"Old habits die hard ... mainly in the morning," said Tulugak.
"But my daughter said I was too young to smoke and I love my daughter so I'll try it," he said.
Cambridge Bay's Emily Oyakyoak tried to kick the habit by going cold turkey. She didn't succeed the first time around, but said she was eventually going to give it another shot.
"Some day," she said.
