What it measures
Dimension: Lifestyle and Behaviour
The teen smoking rate indicator reports the percentage of the population age 12 to19 years old who are daily or occasional cigarette smokers. Trends in teen smoking are of particular interest for public health because regular smoking habits are typically acquired by the time a person is 18 years old.
Why this matters
Smoking rates are important indicators of a healthy population because tobacco use is recognized as a leading cause of preventable illness and death in Canada,.