Thursday is the 'Great American Smokeout': an effort by The American Cancer Society to stop smoking.
And some say kicking the habit may be easier today than ever before.

Donna Patrick says she's proud to be smoke free for nearly two years.

She used to smoke a half a pack a day for 34 years before turning to a prescription drug to kick the habit.

"A physician that I know said it was for me, and that did it", said Patrick.

Patrick took Chantix.

After taking the pill for about three months, she says she hasn't taken a puff since then.

Patrick said, "It stimulates the brain to less extent that nicotine does and therefore it reduces the cravings or the withdrawal symptoms that you'd get if you were to quite cold turkey."

Former smoker Linda Sprague snuffed out the habit using another method, cold laser or low level laser treatment.

Sprague said, "All we really mean is it's not your typical lasers you use for surgeries that cuts or burns. It actually stimulates acupuncture points."

For a better understanding Sprague put me (Michelle Mantel) in the chair...with the device turned off.
Sprague says she was inspired to push people to kick the habit after she stopped smoking.

"I was really surprised because I had tried every other method including medications and then the typical pills and patches cold turkey. I did it all and this actually seemed to work quite well for me", said Sprague.

Proof that quitting smoking might not be so difficult with new methods to put out old habits.

The former smokers say there are side effects to each method, which should be considered before smokers decide to quit.