Is there one particular method to quit smoking that works better than others? In a word, no. Everybody's different, and what works for one person will not work for another. However, there are several tried-and-true methods established that can help you quit smoking. You should be able to choose from among them and find the best method for you. You can also use any of these methods in combination with each other so that you cover more than one base.
Quitting cold turkey is one way to go about it, and of course, it was the way smokers quit smoking before the advent of such things as nicotine replacement products. Nicotine replacement products have been available by prescription for some time, but it's only relatively recently that they've been available over the counter and without a prescription. This can make it much easier to get them and you don't have to wait for your doctor to write a prescription. A very good thing if you're someone who can't handle cravings well.
Now, it should be noted that nicotine replacement therapies such as nicotine gum or nicotine patches aren't going to completely remove your cravings. They are only meant to take the edge off your nicotine cravings so that you can power your way through them. The two most popular of these are nicotine patches or nicotine gum.
Nicotine patches work by releasing a small amount of nicotine into your bloodstream to your skin. You attach them to your body via adhesive and they release nicotine slowly throughout the course of the day. It should be noted that some people experience skin irritation from the nicotine patches; however, in some cases this can be alleviated by changing location of the nicotine patch every time you apply a new one, usually every 24 hours.
Nicotine gum works somewhat similarly to nicotine patches in that when you chew the gum, you ingest a small amount of nicotine and therefore control cravings. Again, nicotine gum is not meant to completely alleviate cravings, only take the edge off of them enough so that you can withstand them rather than giving in and lighting up. Nicotine gum may be especially useful for people who experience skin irritation from the nicotine patches or who missed the oral stimulation lighting up and puffing on a cigarette can give them. The gum helps give you some of the oral activity you may be missing so that again, you're less likely to light up.
Another method to quit smoking is to find a support group or a buddy as you work your way through the process. You can also talk with therapists specially trained in smoking cessation to help you deal with the difficulties that come up when you're working through the process of quitting. Of course, the buddy system is a good idea because you can work with someone who is also going through what you're going through. As much as non-smoking friends, for example, would like to be supportive when you want to quit, to them it's not a big deal that you're going to quit smoking cigarettes. Their attitude may be, "Well, just quit." However, if you have a buddy who knows what you're going through, you can each be the moral support for one another as you work toward your goal of quitting. An experienced friend who is an ex smoker is also a good person to buddy up with, since he or she will know exactly what you're going through and can tell you how he or she got through it.
You can also find a support group that will support you as you work your way through quitting smoking. With the advent of the Internet, it's very easy to find one of these groups online, or you can also find one in your area. Again, you're going to be working with people who are in various stages of becoming a non-smoker. Some people have been ex-smokers for a while and are simply staying around to help others work through the process. Other people are in about the same place as you are as they work toward quitting. Whatever the case, the idea is that these are people who know what you're going through and can help you stay strong. Of course, you can give support to others, too, and this will also help in your own efforts to quit.
Finally, if you wish, you can talk to a trained therapist who has been specially trained in helping smokers quit. The therapy, too, has proven effective.
As you can see, there is no one method to quit smoking. Instead, there are several you can choose from, or using combination. The ultimate goal, of course, is that you quit smoking. It doesn't really matter how you get there, as long as you do.