The more you know about how to quit, the better your chances of success.¹ 

Quitting is a very personal experience, but you are not alone. There's no one way that works for everyone. A good way to start is to get as much information as you can, and decide on a plan that's right for you. For details on these Five Keys for Quitting, go to "You Can Quit Smoking: Five Keys for Quitting" 

Get Medication and Use it Correctly For many people, medication can be the key to quitting smoking. Using medication can greatly increase your chances of quitting for good.3 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved several medications to help people quit smoking. Some are available without a prescription and provide small amounts of nicotine to help you manage withdrawal symptoms and urges. Other medications must be prescribed by a doctor. Many state telephone quitlines offer free or reduced-price medications to eligible callers - call 1-800-QUIT-NOW to learn more. Some medications may also be covered by Medicare or Medicaid. Be sure to speak with your health care provider about how medication can help you in your efforts to quit. For more about medications: FDA: Smoking Cessation Products Smokefree.gov: Medication Guide  Smokefree.gov: Medicines That Help With Withdrawal Become an Ex: Nicotine Addiction

¹ Dunston A, August 2003. Kicking Butts in the Twenty-First Century: What modern science has learned about smoking cessation, New York: American Council on Science and Health, p.8.

³ Fiore MC, Jaen CR, Baker TB, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence:2008 Update. Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service. May 2008.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises the use of effective quit smoking medications, except when medically contraindicated or with specific populations for which there is insufficient evidence of effectiveness (i.e., pregnant women, smokeless tobacco users, light smokers and adolescents).