I started smoking at 13, quit at 18: Emirati student

(Note to eds/subs: Photos of the team and students from the cessation clinic taken by Francois/ GN.)

Dubai: An 18-year-old Emirati student, who started smoking when he was just 13, has successfully completed a smoking cessation programme at the smoking cessation clinic at the Dubai Men’s College, Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT).

S.R, who prefers to be identified just by his initials, spoke exclusively to Gulf News about his struggle with tobacco addiction.

“I was 13 years old when I started smoking. We would smoke in groups in the school toilets,” said the college foundation student.

He said that his friends at school encouraged him to take up smoking.

S.R. went from experimenting with a few puffs to smoking an entire packet.

“For almost five years, I went through a packet a day,” he said.

When the HCT enforced a ban on smoking on its premises in February 2013, the restriction changed habits for the better.

“I went without smoking during college hours, but would smoke after [college],” he said.

Around the same time, S.R. noticed that he wasn’t able to play sport as well as his college mates, who were non-smokers.

“I couldn’t play basketball, volleyball or football without being out of breath. When I heard about the on-campus smoking cessation clinic, run by the Dubai Health Authority [DHA], I signed up,” he said.

The therapy involved a combination of counselling, support activities and interactive sessions.

By mid-May, the student had completed six tobacco-free weeks.

Although his non-smoking friends supported him he said the withdrawal symptoms were tough.

“It has been very difficult. Whenever I have the urge to smoke, I engage in enjoyable activities like racing [console] games. I hope I can quit for life.”