I don't know about anybody else but in my experience cutting down does not work. Oh yes you'll cut down while you're feeling good about things but as soon as you have any stress - whoosh, you're levels are back up again. While you're still taking nicotine into your body the dependency is still there and you're feeding it. I believe, other than for the very few exceptions, that you either smoke or you don't. No in between. Fingers crossed you are one of the exceptions.