BOSTON -- Massachusetts has been handing out free nicotine patches for the past month, and the state announced Wednesday that the giveaway has just been extended.

VIDEO: Free Nicotine Patch Program Extended

NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that after 35 years of smoking, the pressure is on Joanne Lynn. She tried seriously to quit once before, yet for years she's resisted even the pressure of her colleagues at the Department of Public Health for years.

"I think it was always I was afraid I would gain weight. And I know a lot of my friends have said the same thing but a lot of friends have quit. And I decided this was my time. I need to do it. Health reasons. I've been promising (my husband), and I want him to know that I'm going to do it. This is it," Lynn said.

Last month, the Public Health Department distributed two weeks worth of free patches to 7,000 Massachusetts residents. There are no numbers on how many of those people actually quit, but public officials said the giveaway was so successful that they're extending it another month to the end of August.

"Let's smoke smoking. We've got to get rid of smoking. There will be millions of dollars saved," Rep. Peter Koutoujian said.

Massachusetts spends $4 billion a year treating tobacco-related illnesses. Nine thousand people die every year. They are familiar numbers to Statehouse reporter Kevin McNicholas, who's going on his fourth decade as a smoker. He's tried the patch and other programs. On Wednesday, he had a cigarette after 24 hours of quitting.

"You want to stop don't you?" Wu asked.

"Sure," he said. "Most people do. At least half of the people who smoke do. But it's tough -- very tough. And you try and fail. And that urge is there and you say, 'Hey you'd feel better if you had one.'"

Click here for more information on the free patch program