How a Restored Truck Teaches the Hidden Costs of Nicotine Addiction
Jessica Marie Cross knows the cost of addiction—both in time and money. After spending two-and-a-half years restoring a used Tacoma truck, she now uses its story to explain why quitting nicotine matters. Her message is clear: smoking or vaping while in recovery is like leaving an engine to rust in the rain or burning cash every day. Cross rebuilt her truck piece by piece, upgrading every detail over months of hard work. The effort taught her patience and the value of protecting what matters. Now, as a counsellor at Habilitat, she meets people working to rebuild their lives after substance abuse. Many still use nicotine, unaware of its lingering harm.
She compares continuing to smoke or vape during recovery to neglecting a restored vehicle. Ignoring nicotine addiction, she argues, is like watching an engine corrode after all the work put into fixing it. The financial drain is just as real—she describes it as burning a $10 bill daily, money that could go toward true recovery. Her approach isn’t about demanding perfection. Instead, she focuses on giving people the best possible chance at health. Quitting tobacco, she explains, isn’t just another rule—it’s a way to protect the progress they’ve already made.
Cross’s analogy resonates with those in long-term treatment. The cost of nicotine—both to health and finances—remains high, even when other substances are left behind. Her work at Habilitat now includes helping others see that recovery means addressing all addictions, not just the most obvious ones.
