New here, first day

I'll just get into a little bit about my situation. I've only been smoking for about a year now, started off at work where most of the co-workers would smoke during break. And while socializing i would smoke a butt or two. Then it went onto hanging out with friends (who all smoke). I never considered myself addicted because I could go on without smoking for a few days or so. However my smoking really picked up when I went to study over in europe for 2 years and out there the laws seem a bit easier (smoking in bars/cafe/cheaper packs),quit smoking now, I increased my intake to about half a pack a week to a pack a day out there.But when I came back I cut down to about 2 packs a week. I've tried quitting before but it seems that it only last maybe a day or 2. However, there was one time when I couldn't smoke for nearly a whole week because I bit my lip so hard I couldn't even inhale with my mouth closed. But as soon as that was all better I went back to smoking. This really showed me how addicting the stuff is, and that it's not as easy to quit as it seems. I've decided to finally quit today because it's too much of a hastle, finding small 10 min breaks to take a breather, and the fact that the stuff smells nasty. It's a bit hard for me since most of my friends smoke so when we hang out everyone is smoking,Herbal cigarettes, and it's just hard to imagine me there without my cig also. Anyways take this post for what it is, but I've decided to quit. Thanks guysOne thing I might ask here, is that I previously had bought nicotine gum (2mg). And the directions say i should chew a piece every 2-4 hours. Is that a little excessive for the amount I smoke? last thing i want to do is to be addicted to the gum, would it be better if i just chew a piece whenever i get the craving?