71-Year-Old Man Quits Smoking for Ill Girlfriend, Wins NT$80,000 in 'Quit and Win' Campaign

(CNA reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei, June 14) — Quitting smoking for love may be the most romantic declaration for a long-term smoker. Yang Cheng-i, 71, had smoked for 52 years, consuming 2 to 3 packs per day. After his cohabiting partner suffered a tracheostomy due to respiratory infection, he made a firm decision to quit smoking. This year, he participated in and succeeded in the 'Quit and Win' challenge, winning NT$80,000 in prize money.

The Health Promotion Administration (HPA) held the public verification and award ceremony today for the 'Quit and Win' smoking cessation competition. This year’s campaign ran from May 2 to May 29, requiring participants to abstain completely from smoking for four consecutive weeks. A total of eight national prize groups and two special awards for police officers were offered, with each winning pair (participant and witness) receiving NT$80,000. For the first time this year, medical personnel were also included in the incentive program.

The 'Quit and Win' competition attracted 19,124 teams this year. The ten lucky winners who each received NT$80,000 attended the ceremony today to share their stories of overcoming nicotine addiction. Yang Cheng-i, from New Taipei City, is one of the national prize winners. He shared that like 'Minister A-Chung'—Executive Yuan Minister without Portfolio Chen Shih-chung—he was a long-term smoker with a 52-year history, peaking at 2 to 3 packs per day.

Yang said he was heartbroken seeing his partner suffer from a respiratory infection requiring a tracheostomy. When Dr. Chen Chih-tao, Director of the Department of Family Medicine at Far Eastern Hospital, visited during home care and saw him smoking, he advised that quitting would benefit his partner’s recovery. Motivated by this, Yang returned to Dr. Chen’s smoking cessation clinic in March for the second time, followed medical advice by taking oral smoking cessation medication, and even enrolled in the 'Quit and Win' challenge.

'I would often surprise-check his bag to see if he was hiding cigarettes,' Yang’s partner, who served as the witness in the competition, joked to reporters. Remarkably, after Yang quit smoking, his partner’s tracheostomy tube was quickly removed. The couple joyfully took the stage today to receive their NT$80,000 prize, having both won the invaluable gift of health.

Dr. Hsueh Kuang-chieh, Chief of Family Medicine at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, emphasized that the benefits of quitting smoking are immediate: heart rate normalizes within 20 minutes; blood carbon monoxide levels return to normal after 12 hours; circulation and lung function improve within 2 to 12 weeks; coughing and shortness of breath significantly improve within 1 to 9 months; and stroke risk drops to that of a non-smoker after 5 to 15 years.

Dr. Kuo Fei-jan, a smoking cessation physician from the Taiwan Society of Family Medicine, pointed out that nicotine addiction is as severe as heroin and cocaine, classified at the highest level. Smoking is not just a bad habit but a true addiction, requiring proper methods to overcome. Smoking cessation aids include nicotine replacement therapies (patches, chewing tablets, lozenges, sprays) and non-nicotine medications.

Dr. Kuo explained that these medications effectively alleviate withdrawal symptoms, and when combined with professional medical support, significantly increase success rates—all fully subsidized by the Taiwanese government. He also noted that many recent relapses among smokers are linked to heated tobacco products. Starting January 1, 2026, users of heated tobacco will be included in the 'Smoking Cessation Service Subsidy Program,' eligible for the same 'smoking cessation medication' and 'counseling education' as traditional cigarette users.

HPA Deputy Director-General Wei Hsi-lun warned that preventing relapse is currently the biggest challenge for quitters. When cravings arise, individuals should adjust their lifestyle, manage diet and weight, learn relaxation techniques, and manage stress and emotional distress. Actively seeking family and social support and utilizing smoking cessation resources can help completely avoid the risk of relapse. (Edited by Lee Shu-hua) 1150614

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