In the advanced survey all current tobacco users were asked about the number of quit attempts they made in the past year. A quit attempt was defined as stopping smoking or using tobacco altogether for at least 24 hours. Of the 54 current teen tobacco users included in the survey, almost all of them indicated that they had made one or more quit attempts in the past year. Current teen tobacco users reported 10.2 quit attempts during the past year which is almost double the provincial average of 5.4.

In the advanced survey both former tobacco users (regardless of when they quit) and all current tobacco users who had made one or more quit attempts in the past year, were asked (without any prompting) about their main reasons for quitting. The most common reason given for quitting or making a quit attempt was health, either effect on current health (18%) or concern of future health (12%). However, their concern for health is much lower than for the province overall (32% and 31% respectively). The cost of tobacco was also a major reason (24%) for teens to quit, but is less so provincially. Other differences between teen and provincial results are social and family pressures (13% vs. 8%) and running out of cigarettes (10% vs. 1%).

In the focus groups we also found that the large majority of teen smokers had attempted to quit at least once and, in fact, most have tried several times. These participants indicated that running out of money was a key reason for quitting and in some cases resulted in a forced quit attempt which would last only until more money could be found or earned.

Teens agreed that it is very hard to quit smoking. Teen smokers do not have the commitment to quit or feel an urgent need to quit. In addition, they are combating a physical, mental and social addiction caused by the habit. If there was an easy way out "like taking a pill" many teens said they would quit. As mentioned earlier, they see themselves quitting in the near future but do not see it as something that must be accomplished now. For one female teen who had quit in the past but had relapsed "It was hard to quit at the start but soon I found other things to do instead of smoking." Some of the older teens could not imagine their life without cigarettes since it has become so entrenched in their everyday behaviour.

Female teens are concerned they will weight gain if they quit. Several mentioned that they themselves had tried to quit and had experienced rapid weight gain causing them to start smoking again. Others saw this phenomenon with friends who had tried to quit. In some cases, cigarettes are used as a dieting mechanism due to its appetite suppressing effect – "have a smoke for breakfast." For others, smoking stopped them from going to the fridge and picking at food when they were hungry or bored.

Quitting with friends - Some male teen smokers mentioned that they had quit smoking through a bet with friends. While this didn’t seem to always be effective or long lasting, it provided enough motivation to make the quit attempt which is a step in itself. Quite a few teen smokers said that they would try to quit if all of their friends did. The social aspect of smoking and interaction with friends during smoking makes it hard for them to imagine quitting if their friends continued to smoke. Although teen smokers want to quit, the base survey shows that very few of them are successful in becoming long-time former smokers.