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IGLULIK
It has only been 10 days since Shawn Kunuk decided to stop smoking, but already he is noticing food tastes better and his health is improving.

Shawn Kunuk had his last cigarette on Feb. 10 as he decided to quit smoking cold turkey. He is a student support assistant at Ataguttaaluk High School. - photo courtesy of Vince Pickett

The 23-year-old student support assistant at Ataguttaaluk High School in Iglulik had his last cigarette on Feb. 10, he said. He said he had been smoking about one pack a day for more than a decade before deciding to kick the habit cold turkey.

"I just want to be healthy. I want to live longer to see my son grow," he said. "I can smell better and I can taste food better and I'm feeling better."

Born and raised in Iglulik, Kunuk said it's hard but he is very determined not to smoke again. This is the second time he's quit smoking; he attempted to kick the habit three years ago, only to relapse approximately one month later.

"At times I'm still craving for a cigarette, but I'm trying not to smoke," he said. "I never want to smoke again. I hope forever I will be smoke-free."

The tipping point, said Kunuk, was the territorial government's "Tobacco has no place here campaign," launched this past January.

Working at the school, he added they talked about and compared the health of smokers and non-smokers, which presented facts that scared him into quitting.

Kunuk said he hopes students follow his example and kick the habit.

"Don't ever start cigarettes when you're young. That's my message," he said.

With all the money he is saving by not purchasing cigarettes, Kunuk said he will buy more food so he can eat better.

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