How Karissa quit smoking with the support of Allum House

I used to smoke at least a 50-pack a day. The smoking rule, that only one person could smoke at a time, was already in place when I moved in. So it stopped group sessions of smoking and you wouldn’t go out there to social smoke. It was only when you really needed. I always had patches and gum, and I used to sit in the lounge room, watch TV, chew the gum.

“At first I was worried, but then at the end I thanked them.”

Because you know, they were only trying to save your life. No one’s perfect, as you know, but yeah that really did help a lot.

I have cut down. I’ve only had two smokes today. I asked my mum to employ some of the stuff they do here back at home, so that way I still have a little bit of an extra push, so I know I am not going to go out and smoke 50 a day again.

I did want to quit but I just couldn’t push it, couldn’t push myself. I didn’t have that courage and that confidence enough to be able to do it, and I got that confidence by living here.

I think it’s a very good thing. If you stop social smoking, then you have more time, you have more money and you can spend it with your friends.