Baseline Surveys: The Health Effects of Tobacco and Health Warning Messages on Cigarette Packages (disponible en anglais seulement)

4.0 Deaths From Tobacco Use

Respondents were asked whether they believe that tobacco use kills more or fewer numbers of Canadians than a number of other causes of death.

Between one-half and six in ten Canadian adults think tobacco use kills more Canadians each year than murders (63%), suicides (60%), illegal drugs (58%), AIDS (54%) and alcohol (50%). A plurality (48%) think more Canadians die each year from tobacco use than they do from car accidents. Between about one- third and almost one-half believe that tobacco use kills fewer or the same number each year as these other causes of death.

Adult smokers are less likely than Canadian adults in general to think tobacco use kills more Canadians each year than these other causes of death and they are more inclined to think tobacco use kills fewer Canadians each year than these other causes. Male smokers are more likely than female smokers to think tobacco use kills more Canadians each year than these other causes of death. Potential quitters and younger adult smokers are more likely than smokers in general to think tobacco use kills more Canadians each year than the other causes of death.

Between half and six in ten youth think tobacco use kills more Canadians each year than do suicides (61%), murders (57%), illegal drugs (52%), alcohol (51%) and AIDS (50%). A plurality (46%) think more Canadians die each year from tobacco use than they do from car accidents. Between one-third and over half of youth believe that tobacco use kills fewer or the same number of Canadians each year as these other causes of death.

Boys are more likely than girls to think that tobacco use kills more Canadians each year than does AIDS. Older youth, aged 17 to 18 years, are more likely than others to think that tobacco use kills more Canadians each year than do illegal drugs, AIDS or suicides. Potential youth smokers are more inclined than others to think tobacco use kills more Canadians each year than does illegal drugs, but that tobacco use kills fewer than does AIDS. Youth smokers are slightly more likely than others to think tobacco use kills fewer Canadians each year than do illegal drugs and suicides.

Only 17 percent of Canadian adults correctly believe that approximately 45,000 Canadians die each year as a result of tobacco use. Four in ten (41%) pick a number lower than 45,000. Three in ten (29%) choose a number higher than 45,000. Ten percent offer no opinion.

Adult smokers exhibit a similar level of knowledge as Canadian adults in general.

Only 18 percent of youth correctly believe that approximately 45,000 Canadians die each year as a result of tobacco use. Almost five in ten (46%) pick a number lower than 45,000 and three in ten (32%) choose a number higher than 45,000.