cold turkey is the only way
problem with nicotine is you build up tolerance to it, so even if you use patches and other nicotine replacements, you're just prolonging things, you're still going to have to go through nicotine withdrawel and just lowering intake will make it harder, because you're cravings will only intensify.
you just have to take it one day at a time, keep yourself busy, try not to think about it at all.. eat a LOT if you can, eat mints or anything that doesnt go well with smoking too.
best thing to do though is to quit with someone else, it makes things much easier when your with someone who's going through the same thing.
and you have to have a reason to quit, it cant just be "because I should", you have to think about your family, your kids, your kids kids.. you dont want you're loved ones to sit around you one day on a bed while your so thin and dying that they can see your bones and organs through your skin.
Just remember whether its been 2 years, 20 years, or more.. the hardest part of quitting is the first 3 days, the next 2 weeks are just mental, after that smoking isnt even a second thought most the time.
it takes 18 days of a repetitive action to form a habit, so 18 days of non-smoking should start you on your non-smoking habit
Furious_Female and I quit this month, we've both tried before but it was much easier doing it together, so the best thing to do is find someone to quit with, if your wife or girlfriend smokes.. ask them to quit with you, then spend the next 3 days attached at the hip, find as many things to do together as you can and dont think about smoking