THREE DECADES AFTER TAKING HIS FIRST DRAG ON A CIGARETTE, JIM STEARNS IS DETERMINED TO KICK THE HABIT. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO DO AND IT IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE HARDEST THING THAT I'VE EVER DONE.  DOCTORS BLAME THE POWERFUL ADDICTION TO NICOTINE FOUND IN CIGARETTES. QUITTING SMOKING IS DEALING WITH AN ADDICTION. NICOTINE IS ONE OF THE MOST ADDICTIVE CHEMICALS KNOWN TO MAN. IN ORDER TO QUIT, EXPERTS SAY YOU NEED TO BE MOTIVATED. GRAPHIC ON SCREEN PICK A DATE TO START GET ASHTRAYS AND CIGARETTES OUT OF THE HOUSE --FIND A DISTRACTION WHEN CRAVINGS HIT --AND ASK FOR SUPPORT FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS I TALK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT IT JUST TO KEEP ON REAFFIRMING IT IN MY MIND BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT'S WHERE THE BATTLE IS BEING FOUGHT.  NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY, PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS, TELEPHONE COUNSELING AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS ALSO MAY HELP IN THE BATTLE.  I'M ALL FOR ANYTHING THAT WILL WORK -- ANYTHING THAT'LL HELP THAT PATIENT QUIT.  FOR PEOPLE LIKE JIM, THE TOUGHEST PART ABOUT QUITTING MAY BE GETTING STARTED.