Celebs And Smoking: Who Quit And Who's Still Trying?

By Melissa F. Pheterson for iVIllage.com

Cold turkey, hypnotism, nicotine-replacement therapies -- find out which path 27 stars took to kick the habit.

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Jon Hamm

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When He Quit: The star of AMC's "Mad Men" quit smoking 16 years ago, at age 24. For his role as the chain-smoking Don Draper, he smokes only herbal cigarettes on set. How He Adjusted: Herbal cigarettes, says Hamm, taste "terrible ... like a mixture between pot and soap," but at least they're a harmless way of conforming to character. An Expert's Take: Though herbal cigarettes are said to contain no nicotine or chemicals, Hamm isn't getting off scot-free when he lights up. "Like regular cigarettes, herbal cigarettes have been found to deliver carcinogens to smokers," says Cheryl Healton, Dr.P.H., president and CEO of Legacy. "There is some concern that actors who had previously quit smoking and who now use these herbal cigarettes on set are in fact at risk of relapsing to regular cigarettes." Note: Legacy is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to building a world where "young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit." They offer a free quit-smoking program: Become An Ex. More from iVillage: The 13 Most Dangerous Teen Health Risks Get Your Kid Moving! Homework Dances, Camel Poses and More An A to Z Guide to Heart Health: How to Protect Your Ticker

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When He Quit: The star of AMC's "Mad Men" quit smoking 16 years ago, at age 24. For his role as the chain-smoking Don Draper, he smokes only herbal cigarettes on set.

How He Adjusted: Herbal cigarettes, says Hamm, taste "terrible ... like a mixture between pot and soap," but at least they're a harmless way of conforming to character.

An Expert's Take: Though herbal cigarettes are said to contain no nicotine or chemicals, Hamm isn't getting off scot-free when he lights up. "Like regular cigarettes, herbal cigarettes have been found to deliver carcinogens to smokers," says Cheryl Healton, Dr.P.H., president and CEO of Legacy.

"There is some concern that actors who had previously quit smoking and who now use these herbal cigarettes on set are in fact at risk of relapsing to regular cigarettes."

Note: Legacy is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to building a world where "young people reject tobacco and anyone can quit." They offer a free quit-smoking program: Become An Ex.

More from iVillage:

The 13 Most Dangerous Teen Health Risks
Get Your Kid Moving! Homework Dances, Camel Poses and More
An A to Z Guide to Heart Health: How to Protect Your Ticker

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Comments

[Buck Winthrop]

03:49 PM on 09/24/2011

smoking is digusting, plain and simple.

[senorlou]

08:23 PM on 09/15/2011

I've been trying to quit forever.  It is very difficult.  I once quit for 8 years, another time for 2.  I am now trying to quit for good, but it's only been 3 days LOL.  You really have to want to quit badly to do it, and once you're off, you can never take a single puff again - you'll just get right back into it.  I'm especially sorry to hear about Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones.  Shows you how powerful the addiction is.

[hypnoblonde]

07:08 PM on 09/12/2011

Being a hypnotherapist I see lots of smokers... so I do believe the desire to not smoke is great. Most of my fellow hypnotherapists also see a lot of smokers.

[dmancini]

06:44 PM on 09/12/2011

As a 30 year smoker, I tried to quit a few times to no avail. Then I quit all animal proteins and went on a plant based diet. It took 3 months until the urge to smoke left me and it never came back, that was 12 years ago.

[Blissful]

03:14 PM on 09/12/2011

I quit once. I just had a glass of wine whenever I wanted to smoke. It worked and was fun too!

[Pondo Sinatra]

02:10 AM on 09/12/2011

Now, if Obama could only quit the White House our countrys health would get better !!!

[heelsstore]

11:38 PM on 09/11/2011

As a public star, they act like they do for people who have a major impact. Hope they do a demonstration for the public.

[wilmad110]

05:57 PM on 09/11/2011

Stopped smoking 9 months ago,ater 55 years at a pack a day or more..Had cold laser,walked out and have never wanted a cigarette.So I guess if I can do it at 76 years old any one can do it.
Good luck

[nedfarn25]

10:05 AM on 09/11/2011

funny all liberals and all people who tell others how to run their lives--you know condemned if don't agree with thier view of the world

[spkninglsh]

02:10 PM on 09/11/2011

America...love it or leave it?

[Blissful]

03:13 PM on 09/12/2011

Not true. Nobody is telling you how to run your life. Repubs on the other hand love to.

[larryr2802]

09:14 AM on 09/11/2011

The best way to quit is to stand in front of a mirror and watch yourself puff and see your facial expressions with each puff.

[John Rathe]

12:40 AM on 09/11/2011

If you "puff on the occasional cigarette" you haven't quit. That's like saying I'm a vegetarian except for when I eat a steak. Dumb.

[Euphoria123]

12:49 PM on 09/11/2011

Agreed....also, best avatar ever.

[John Rathe]

03:44 PM on 09/11/2011

Thanks ;)

[ThreeCrows]

02:30 PM on 09/10/2011

Didn't know Kelly Ripa was a smoker. However, if she thinks quitting smoking is going to slow down her wrinkles, she is mistaken. Genetics and environment plays a big part and her love for sun tanning has already taken its toll on her skin. She'll wake up one day and find that her skin will not be that 20 something ingenue of the past and it's off to the dermatologist and then plastic surgeon.

[Sammie55]

09:38 AM on 09/11/2011

It will not stop her wrinkles but it will help IMMENSELY. Smoking and sun are THE top two things that promote wrinkling..