Book Review: Crush the Grip of Nicotine and Break the Chains of Addiction by Radenko Suvajac

Correcting Cognitive Distortions: The Key That Unlocks

By: Sanja Radulović

On the book “Break the Chains of Nicotine and Tear Apart the Bonds of Addiction” by Radenko Suvajac, Grafid 2024

The book Break the Chains of Nicotine and Tear Apart the Bonds of Addiction is primarily intended for users of tobacco products, but also for those who have never smoked, in order to emphasize the importance of preventive action. It also speaks to former smokers, reminding them of the significance and long-term value of the decision they made.

The Li.O.N.S Method: Life of a Nonsmoker

Author Radenko Suvajac developed his own method for quitting smoking, called “Li.O.N.S” — an acronym for The Life of a Nonsmoker. The method combines techniques from Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). He first applied it successfully to himself, and then began helping others, demonstrating through his own experience that quitting is possible. He shares how, without holding back, even revealing deeply personal moments of confronting weakness and addiction. Acknowledgment, in this case, is the first step toward resolution. A precursor might be the moment of awareness triggered by the question: what could be the catalyst for quitting smoking, or more specifically, what could motivate a smoker strongly enough to give up cigarettes?

What Drives Change?

Suvajac explores various motivational factors:

• Fear of death, while difficult to ignore, is often not a strong enough motivator, as it usually arises too late—when symptoms already indicate illness.
• Loss of self-respect due to smoking can be a trigger, but not for everyone.
• Awareness of being controlled may motivate those who despise captivity and naturally resist the feeling that something or someone governs their life.

Ultimately, the author highlights self-love as the most powerful motivator in transitioning from a smoker’s life to that of a nonsmoker. Awareness of one’s own worth and the decision to live free of addiction and in good health is the guide and the key to unlocking The Life of a Nonsmoker.

The Financial Dimension

While health is rightly prioritized when discussing the harms of smoking, the financial aspect should not be overlooked. Even the state of one’s bank account can serve as a motivational factor. (From personal experience, I rewarded myself each month with a gift equivalent to the amount I used to spend on cigarettes. It works—even though the process can be difficult.)

The Influence of Marketing

The impact of marketing on the rising number of smokers is far from negligible. In the 1960s, magazines targeting men featured images of men surrounded by money, beautiful women, and cigarettes. Women were not spared either—manipulation around women’s rights and freedom of choice was widespread. Marketing exploited these themes, portraying women as bold and daring through the smoke above their heads, lipstick marks on cigarette filters, and glasses of alcohol that emphasized power and sex appeal.

Marketing rarely considers morality or health. Its goal is to sell products and generate profit. In our search for self-worth and acceptance, we are bombarded by a system that convinces us we are inadequate and unhappy until we buy everything we supposedly “need.” This propaganda targets human vulnerabilities with carefully crafted messages. The goal of consumer society is to create dissatisfaction and then endlessly sell solutions. Suvajac highlights several advertising slogans that promoted smoking. Though some campaigns are decades old, their messages remain unforgettable. These powerful slogans speak not only to smokers but to our loneliness. They deserve attention in the context of cigarette addiction, and the author devotes appropriate focus to them.

Social Pressure and Identity

It is also important to recognize the human need—especially among young people who have not yet developed a stable identity—to be accepted by their peers (“everyone smokes; if I don’t, will they reject me?”). Many young people use cigarettes to prove they are grown up. The value of this book is significant, especially in terms of prevention. I recommend promoting it in schools and educational institutions, as well as in any setting where health is discussed with good intentions—not for the purpose of selling miracle (quick and easy) solutions.

Memory and Transformation

Before concluding, I allow myself to imagine that all smokers—past and present—remember their first cigarette like their first kiss. Such memories may be linked to many important moments, joyful or sorrowful, witnessed by a cigarette. Perhaps we’ve romanticized cigarette addiction partly due to films or images etched in memory, sometimes resurfacing with nostalgia and overwhelming emotion. If we have, so be it. What matters is that we remember we can hold onto the memory and still be proud of the decision to quit. Because the path to change begins with a decision, preceded by a shift in belief—from “it’s impossible, I can’t” to “it’s possible, I can.” That shift is the key turning point.

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