Lois Smith quit smoking at age 64 with the help of the free national tobacco "quitline" at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (or check www.smokefree.gov).

I thought the quitline was really beneficial,” says Smith, 72, of Rio, Wis. The quitline counselors encouraged her to replace smoking with healthier choices, so she began to walk at times when she normally smoked. This helped keep her mind off smoking. “I like to paint ceramics, and it helped me to stay busy with my hands,” she says.

Smith isn’t alone in battling to break free from cigarettes. According to the U.S. Public Health Service’s 2008 Clinical Practice Guideline: Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence, more than 18 million Americans 45 and older smoke. And 4.5 million Americans 65 and older smoke. In fact, smoking among this group is up 5 percent since 2000. Yet study after study shows seven out of 10 smokers want to quit; it’s just such a struggle to succeed.

As the former U.S. surgeon general, I’m not surprised. Research shows that nicotine is more addictive than cocaine or heroin. Quitting isn’t just a “matter of willpower.” Smokers don’t have to quit on their own.

The federal guideline highlights the expanded array of treatment options. The quitline is a phone call away, and the Food and Drug Administration has approved seven medications to help smokers quit.

The guideline encourages all health care providers to offer the combination of counseling and medications proven to work. In some states, quitlines send free drugs to callers. Medicare Part D covers quit-tobacco counseling and prescription drugs. Every Medicare plan is required to cover at least one quit-tobacco medication.

I’ll be 92 in October, so I know it’s never too late for some things in life, including stopping tobacco use. Research shows quitting after age 65 reduces risk for coronary heart disease, emphysema, lung cancer, osteoporosis, hearing loss, cataracts, impotence, poor circulation and Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, abstinence can promote faster recovery from broken bones, surgery and illness.

I urge AARP members who smoke to quit for healthier living. One billion people on this planet will die a smoker’s death in the 21st century, and the misery that precedes that final outcome is incalculable.

Smith says she’s glad she quit because she can breathe easier, her sense of smell has returned, and she has saved a lot of money. More important, her success has led directly to her daughter, niece and nephew quitting. “That makes me feel very good,” Smith says. 

C. Everett Koop is a former U.S. surgeon general. Michael Fiore directs the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention. Chris Hollenback writes for the university.