'I will not smoke' is the hardest resolution of 2017

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New Year celebrations end with a hangover for most. For some, they end with the realization that they have survived one more year with a lethal addiction. January 1, when the New Year starts, is the perfect day to change the future. A smoker begins by resolving to not smoke. It is simple. The best way to avoid the habit is by not burning a cigarette in the first place. But it won't be that easy. Actually, it will be the hardest resolution to keep.

A study published by the 'Royal Society for Public Health' has shown that out of those who resolved not to smoke, only 41% kept their promise for more than a month. Shockingly, only 13% made it a year without smoking. So statistically speaking, there are higher chances of you guessing the result of a dice throw (16.67 %).

But why is it so hard to quit? Often in medical situations, a strong-willed patient beats death to live another day. If will-power can beat death, then why not an addiction?

The answer lies in the chemical processes that go on in our brain when one is smoking.

There are a finite amount of nicotine receptors in our brain. And when a person smokes, a large amount of nicotine is fed to these receptors. In response to the increased supply, the number of receptors also increases. As a direct effect of this, the nicotine demand of the brain is raised permanently.

According to the site 'Smokefree.gov', not smoking causes a lack of nicotine to numerous receptors. By now, the nicotine addicted brain feels a lack of the same and reacts with withdrawal symptoms such as anxiousness, irritability and strong cravings for the compound. In short, quitting smoking causes a lot of discomfort. And this continues until the supply of nicotine is resumed. This explains why it takes no time to break a 'no-smoking' resolution.

Those who resume smoking a few months after they've quit are not weak willed people. They're just slaves to the laws of chemistry. It is in public interest that the addicted should be helped by everyone in the community. They need all the help they can get. And it is the spirit of Christmas and the New Year to give help to those who need it.