MOHLTC - Health Update - Fact Sheet - Smoking Trends in Ontario - Tobacco Control Statute Law Amendment Act, 2005

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Health Update

Smoking Trends in Ontario

Tobacco Control Statute Law Amendment Act, 2005

Long-term smoking trends

Within the past two decades, all age groups in Ontario have experienced a decline in smoking rates. Smoking prevalence dropped substantially during the 1980's, and while it has continued to decline within the past decade, the rate of decline has been slower.

Smoking prevalence by age group for 1999 to 2003

Age	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
15+	23%	23%	20%	20%	20%
15-19	25%	25%	19%	19%	14%
20-24	34%	28%	31%	29%	30%

_{Source : Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey (Health Canada)}

Estimates of smoking prevalence (i.e. the percentage of current smokers - daily and occasional in the population) are based on self-report and are generally considered to be under-estimates of the true smoking prevalence.

Aged 15 and older
Within the past five years, the percentage of population aged 15 and older in Ontario reporting themselves to be smokers decreased from 23 per cent in 1999 to 20 per cent in 2003.

Aged 15-19
According to Health Canada, smoking prevalence for Canadian youth aged 15 to 19 years peaked in the mid- to late-90s with a high of 28 per cent. Within the past five years, the smoking prevalence in this age group has decreased. In Ontario, the smoking rate decreased from 25 per cent in 1999 to 14 per cent in 2003.

Aged 20-24
Smoking prevalence has historically been higher among young adults aged 20 to 24 years than any other age group. In 1999, 34 per cent of Ontarian young adults smoked and in 2003, 30 per cent were current smokers.



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