Just like every other addiction, quitting addiction of any kind is more or less a war(inside and between oneself)...
And a gradual approach as you said, can do that magic...
It is not going to be easy cause I had witnessed it from close range but the help of you and your loved ones may make things easier. To quit something it's better to follow something, like following new hobby will help a lot but one who try to quit smoking should keep in mind consuming tobacco in any form is dangerous so people who want to quit may choose to chew which is much worse.