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Ministerial Advisory Council on Tobacco Control - Biennial Report 2004-2006

Good news! We're still on the right track, but ...

Trends in the prevalence of current smoking continued to decline among Canadians 15 years and older. Canada has reduced the prevalence of smoking from 25% to 19% in the last 6 years. This reduction in prevalence translates into about one million fewer Canadians smoking in 2005 than in 1999 (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Prevalence of Canadian current smokers, aged 15 years and over, 1999-2005

Source: Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (Annual), 1999-2005.

Figure 2: Prevalence of Canadian current smokers, by youth age group, 1999-2005

Source: Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (Annual), 1999-2005.

The prevalence of smoking among youth 15-19 years has decreased by about 10% in the last decade. The rate has been stable at 18% since 2003 and there was no difference in the reported rate of smoking between boys and girls in 2005. The prevalence of smoking among young adults (20-24 years) in 2005 is the lowest rate on record since Health Canada first reported prevalence. Overall, the reduction in prevalence among this group in 2005 is encouraging, although young adults still continue to report the highest prevalence compared to other age groups (Figure 2).

Despite the significant decrease in prevalence rates, much work remains to be done in the area of tobacco control. Although we have seen significant gains, these gains are the result of many years of work and may be lost if we do not remain vigilant in moving the issue of tobacco control forward.

We also need to make sure that we examine the needs of the remaining smokers and, where possible, help them to quit smoking. This will require broader support for specific tobacco control strategies and policies. It is within the context of the remaining 19% of smokers that the MACTC set its priorities for 2006-2007.