January 20, 2014
Today’s teens have much lower smoking rates than most adults
Young adults have twice the smoking rate of teens. Waterloo expert says smoking prevention efforts need to expand to those aged 20-34
Teenagers – the much-maligned group with a bad rap for making poor choices – have lower smoking rates than virtually all other adults, according to a new report published by the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact at the University of Waterloo.
The report shows that smoking prevalence is highest - 22 per cent - among young adults aged 25-34-years old. That’s double the smoking rate for teens. The report shows about 11 per cent of youth aged 15-19-years old reported smoking in 2012.
The smoking rate for young adults aged 20-24 was also high at 20 per cent.
“While smoking prevalence among Canadian teenagers was lower than ever in 2012, the high rates among young adults are cause for concern. We need to expand the focus of smoking prevention efforts beyond just teens,” said Jessica Reid, lead author of the report and a project manager with Propel.
David Hammond, an associate professor in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences and report co-author, said: “Currently the highest prevalence is among a demographic who ostensibly grew up knowing the dangers of smoking. Social norms need to change or else we will face a huge burden of illness in the future.”
Decline in smoking rate across Canada has slowed
The study also found that, after years of steadily declining, rates of tobacco use in Canada have stalled. The report found that 16.1% or 4.6 million Canadians were current smokers in 2012, which was not a significant change from 2011.
“Smoking rates are no longer dropping like they used to. It’s an alarming trend,” said Barbara Riley, executive director of the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact.
Tobacco continues to be the leading cause of preventable death in Canada; more than obesity, physical inactivity or high blood pressure. More than 37,000 Canadians will die prematurely this year due to tobacco.
While there had been a steady decline in tobacco use over the last fifty years, the decline has significantly slowed in most recent years.
Males are more likely than females to smoke
“There is a general impression that smoking is yesterday’s problem,” said Hammond. “The report is a reminder that smoking remains one of the leading public health threats in Canada and additional measures are needed if smoking rates are to drop.”
Historically the greatest decline in tobacco use occurred when there were deliberate tobacco control efforts.
According to the report, males are more likely than females to smoke and also consume more cigarettes per day, on average.
Each day, 100 Canadians die from a smoking-related illness. Half of all long-term smokers will die or be disabled from a tobacco-related disease.
The findings are part of the larger Tobacco Use in Canada: Patterns and Trends report, which uses data from national surveys conducted by Health Canada and Statistics Canada to summarize the main patterns in tobacco use in Canada between 1999 and 2012, with a focus on the current year. This year, the report includes a special supplement on flavoured tobacco.
