I smoked for years, I started when I was about 11. I quit several times just to pick it up again finally sometime in my mid 30's I woke up one day and said I don't need these anymore, and that was it. I'd say that was about 6 or 7 years ago, was it hard? Oh yeah it was harder than quitting anything else including putting down alcohol, and I had 12 steps to help with that. Best of luck with it.