I have a friend who believes that I can't say I stopped smoking as I have taken it up again (I have given it up and taken it up again a few times before).

I believe that I can say, "I gave up smoking", and that "I stopped smoking", even if I had/have taken up/begun this foul addiction again.

Examples:

I stopped smoking 30 years ago, but I have taken it up again a few times since then.

I gave up smoking 30 years ago, but I took it up again.

Just because I have taken up smoking again, does it mean that I can't say I stopped smoking at a particular time in the past?

That is, is stopping permanent, or can it be temporary?