Addicts in early recovery often follow familiar advice: Don’t worry about giving up nicotine within the first year of sobriety. Nicotine can be just as difficult to quit as drugs or alcohol, and psychologists see patients regularly who say giving it up is not an option.

“That’s a common piece of advice in Alcoholics Anonymous, they say don’t even think about quitting smoking for the first year,” said Gene, a recovering addict whose name was changed to protect his anonymity. “Probably the only place in the world you’ll hear that.”