Quit Attempts: Why Trying Again Is Normal
Key takeaways
There is no set number of tries. The Canadian Task Force notes that many people attempt quitting multiple times with different interventions, and Health Canada says each quit attempt is a step forward. Reviewing triggers, changing the approach and adding medication or counselling are the steps both sources point to.
There is no official count of how many tries it takes, and none of the Canadian sources we read gives one. They do say that repeated attempts are common. The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care notes that many people attempt quitting multiple times with different interventions, and Health Canada calls each quit attempt a step forward. If you have tried before, you are in a very usual position.
What do the sources say about trying again?
The Task Force’s 2025 guideline says that what matters most is trying something that has been shown to be effective. Health Canada advises planning for setbacks. After a return to regular smoking, it says to identify what led to it, revisit your reasons for quitting and set a new quit date when you feel ready. Its message is that you did it once and can do it again.
For the first hour after a single cigarette, see what to do after a slip. This page takes the longer view.
How can you learn from each attempt?
Each try gives you information the last one did not. A few questions to ask afterwards:
- When did it get hardest, and what was happening at that moment?
- Which people, places or situations set off the urge?
- What support did you use, and was it enough?
- Did you try alone, or with medication or counselling?
Health Canada suggests avoiding people, places and situations that make you want to smoke, keeping coping strategies handy, and calling the quit service at 1-866-366-3667 or a healthcare provider if you feel at risk of relapsing. Write your answers into the quit plan builder so the next attempt starts from what you learned.
What might you change next time?
A 2016 Cochrane review found that combining medication with behavioural support increased quitting compared with brief advice, usual care or less intensive support (risk ratio 1.83, 95% CI 1.68 to 1.98; 52 studies, 19,488 participants). If you went without help last time, adding some could be the change. If you used one kind, how to choose your quit method lays out the others. We cannot tell you which suits you, and a doctor, pharmacist or nurse can.
What helps you stay quit once you have stopped?
Health Canada suggests rewarding yourself for small and large wins, replacing negative self-talk with a positive thought, and reviewing the benefits you have gained since quitting. The craving and slip support page has tools for the hard moments.
What we could not confirm
We did not find a Canadian figure for how many attempts people make on average, or for how often a later attempt succeeds. We do not quote one.
Health information is general and educational. It does not replace advice from a doctor, pharmacist or nurse. Read the full disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
How many times do people try before they quit for good?
We found no official number. The Canadian Task Force only says that many people attempt quitting multiple times with different interventions.
Does a failed attempt mean I cannot quit?
No. Health Canada says each quit attempt is a step forward, and that after a relapse you can revisit your reasons and set a new quit date when you feel ready.
What should I change on the next try?
The Task Force says what matters most is trying something shown to be effective. A 2016 Cochrane review found that combining medication with behavioural support increased quitting compared with less intensive support.
Where do I start after a slip?
Our page on what to do after a slip covers the first hour. This page takes the longer view of several attempts.
Sources
- Recommendations on tobacco smoking cessation in adults (Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care), CMAJ 2025 — Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care / CMAJ. Accessed October 31, 2026.
- Quit with Confidence: How to quit — Health Canada. Accessed October 31, 2026.
- Quit smoking: after you quit — Health Canada. Accessed October 31, 2026.
- Combined pharmacotherapy and behavioural interventions for smoking cessation (Cochrane review, 2016) — Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews via Europe PMC. Accessed October 31, 2026.