My friends mom was smoking 3 packs of cigarettes a day sometimes 3 1/2, since she was 16, and shes 49 now, and shes in the process of quitting, wearing patches, she went 3 weeks without a cigarette, but then messed up when she went to the step 2 patch, because it has half the nicotine.. she messed up big time smoking 5 -8 cigs a day.. but now her doctor told her to wear 2 step patches a day since she doesnt have any more step one's.. and now shes doing good again..