Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (CTUMS) 2002

Summary of Results for 2002 (February to December)

Overview

According to the latest results from the Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (CTUMS), for data collected between February and December 2002, an estimated 5.4 million people, representing roughly 21% of the population aged 15 years and older, were current smokers, of which 18% reported smoking daily. This is a slight decrease¹ from the 2001 rate (22%). Approximately 23% of men aged 15 years and older were current smokers, slightly higher than the proportion of women (20%).

Youth Aged 15-19 Years

The rate for teens aged 15-19 years decreased slightly¹ from the 2001 rate (22.5%), with 22% of teens aged 15-19 years reporting themselves as current smokers in 2002 (16% daily, 6% occasional smokers). Slightly more¹ teen girls reported smoking than boys: (23% vs 21%).

Young Adults Aged 20-24 Years

The prevalence of smoking among young adults aged 20-24 years was reported at 31% in 2002 (23% daily, 8% occasional), also slightly decreased¹ from the 2001 rate (32%). There was little difference in the smoking rates between males and females aged 20-24 years.

Consumption of Cigarettes and Type

Not only are fewer Canadians smoking, but they are also smoking fewer cigarettes on a daily basis. In 1985, daily smokers consumed an average of 20.6 cigarettes per day. Since then, the number of cigarettes smoked has been gradually declining to the current level of 16.4 cigarettes per day reported for 2002. Men continued to smoke more cigarettes than women: 17.9 cigarettes per day for males as compared to 14.8 for females. The vast majority of Canadian smokers (61%) reported consuming some type of "light" or "mild" cigarette, compared to 39% who smoke a "regular" type of cigarette.

Smoking in the Provinces

British Columbia once again reported the lowest prevalence of smoking among Canadians aged 15 years and older (16%). The highest smoking prevalence rate reported was in Quebec (26%), up slightly¹ from the 2001 rate for that province (24%). Quebec also reported the highest average number of cigarettes consumed per day by daily smokers (17.6), while Ontario reported the lowest average (15.5).

Smoking and Pregnancies

A total of 26% of Canadian women aged 20-44 years reported being pregnant in the last five years. Of these, 11% smoked regularly during their most recent pregnancy. This is down from 19% as reported in the 1995 Survey on Smoking in Canada. As well, in 2002, 13% said that their spouse smoked regularly at home during their most recent pregnancy.

Reference Information

CTUMS was developed to provide Health Canada and its partners with timely, reliable, and continual data on tobacco use and related issues. The survey's primary objective is to track changes in smoking status and amount smoked, especially for 15-24-year-olds, who are most at risk for taking up smoking. Annual 2002 CTUMS collected data from about 23,300 respondents from February to December 2002.

For more information about the survey and/or its results, please write the Tobacco Control Programme, Office of Research, Surveillance and Evaluation, Health Canada, 123 Slater Street, Address Locator 3507C, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, or send an email request to TCP-PLT-questions@hc-sc.gc.ca, or visit Health Canada's Tobacco Control Programme website www.gosmokefree.ca/ctums.

For information on the public-use microdata file, contact Statistics Canada's Client Services (1-888-297-7355; 613-951-7355; fax: 613-951-3012; ssd@statcan.ca), Special Surveys Division.

1 differences are not statistically significant

Sources: 1985-1998/99 various surveys 1999-2002 CTUMS

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