Physicians are in a unique position to advise smokers to quit because of their ability to integrate the various aspects of nicotine dependence. This review provides an overview on interventions with smokers presenting in a primary care setting. Strategies used for smoking cessation counseling differ according to patient's readiness to quit. For smokers who do not intent to quit smoking, physicians should inform and sensitize patients about tobacco use and cessation, especially by personalizing benefits to quit and challenging smokers' beliefs. For smokers who are insecure, physicians should use motivational strategies, such as discussing barriers to cessation and their solutions. For smokers ready to quit, the physician should show strong support, help set a quitting date, prescribe pharmaceutical therapies for nicotine dependence, such as replacement therapy and/or bupropion, with instructions for use, and suggest behavioral strategies to prevent relapse.