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Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey

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In 2008, 18% of Canadians reported smoking either every day or occasionally, roughly the same rate since 2005.

Smoking prevalence among adults aged 25 and older dropped from 19% in 2007 to 17% in 2008. Most notably, the smoking rate for women in this age group dropped from 18% in 2007 to 15% in 2008.

Nearly one-half (48%) of adults aged 20 to 24 and just under one-third (31%) of teens aged 15 to 19 reported ever having tried little cigars or cigarillos. The rate of people having smoked a little cigar or cigarillo in the 30 days prior to the survey was 12% for 20 to 24 year olds and 9% for 15 to 19 year olds.

Note: The Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (CTUMS) and the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) produce estimates of national and provincial smoking rates. There are a number of differences between these two surveys. Each uses a different sampling frame.

The annual sample for CTUMS is 20,000, compared to 65,000 for CCHS. In the CCHS, smoking questions are asked in the context of a wide range of health-related behaviours; in CTUMS, all questions are related to smoking.

These factors can influence the estimates produced at a single point in time. However, the trends produced by the two surveys have been very consistent over time. Rather than comparing smoking rates produced from the two surveys, users should choose a single source, depending on their objectives, and use that source consistently.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 4440.

The February to December 2008 Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey Microdata File, (82M0020X, $2,140) is now available. See How to order products.

For more information on the public-use microdata file, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Client Services (toll-free 1-800-461-9050; 613-951-3321; fax: 613-951-4527; ssd@statcan.gc.ca), Special Surveys Division.

For more information about the survey results, contact Philippe Laroche (613-946-4250; philippe_laroche@hc-sc.gc.ca), Health Canada, or visit the Tobacco Control Program website (www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/tobac-tabac/index-eng.php).