News Release
2003-61
July 30, 2003
For immediate release
Canadians smoking less than ever before
OTTAWA - According to the latest results released today from the Canadian
Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (CTUMS), the prevalence of smoking continues to decline in
Canada. The data were collected between February and December 2002.
The survey reveals that 5.4 million Canadians, representing roughly 21 percent of the
population aged 15 years and over, were current smokers. This is a slight decrease from
the 2001 rate (22%). These most recent findings demonstrate that recent tobacco control
initiatives have been instrumental in helping bring Canada even closer to the government's
target to reduce overall smoking prevalence to 20 percent by 2011.
Not only are fewer Canadians smoking, but they are also smoking fewer cigarettes on a
daily basis. In 2002, the number of cigarettes smoked was 16.4 cigarettes per day. This
is a decrease from the 1985 average of 20.6 cigarettes smoked per day. In 2002, men continued
to smoke more cigarettes than women: 17.9 cigarettes per day for males as compared to 14.8
for females.
CTUMS is conducted by Statistics Canada on behalf of Health Canada. Over the course of
a year, CTUMS collects information over the telephone from over 20,000 respondents. Since
its creation in 1999, CTUMS has provided up-to-date, reliable, and consistent data on tobacco
use in Canada. The survey is especially helpful in providing smoking data on groups at
risk, such as youth and young adults aged 15-24.
Surveillance, such as CTUMS, is a key component in monitoring the impact of the Federal
Tobacco Control Strategy announced in April 2001. The strategy's diversified measures to
reduce tobacco consumption also include regulation and compliance, public education, policy
development, partnerships with provinces and territories, municipal governments and non
governmental organizations, taxation, and mass media campaigns.
Smoking is the most preventable cause of death and disease in Canada. More than 45,000
people will die prematurely this year due to tobacco use and at least 1000 of them will
be non-smokers.
For more details on the CTUMS, please see the attached backgrounder.
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Media Inquiries:
Carole Saindon
Health Canada
(613) 946-7242
Farah Mohamed
Office of Anne McLellan
Minister of Health
(613) 957-1694
Public Inquiries:
(613) 957-2991
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