Quitting smoking

Quit intentions

In 2017, more than half of smokers aged 15 to 19 (54.7%) were seriously considering quitting in the next 6 months, and the majority (57.5%)^a of those were considering doing so in the next 30 days—equivalent to 31.1% of all current smokers (Figure 11.1). Since 2000, the proportion of smokers seriously considering quitting in the next 6 months has been roughly six in ten, although estimates have fluctuated from year to year, ranging from 55% to 70% (Figure 11.1). The proportion seriously considering quitting in the next 30 days has paralleled this variation over time, though at lower levels of roughly thirty to forty per cent.

See data table below with 95% confidence intervals.

Figure 11.1 data table with 95% confidence intervals

Percentage of smokers aged 15-19 seriously considering quitting in the next 6 months, and in the next 30 days, 2000-2017.
	In the next 6 months	In the next 30 days
2000	64.8	37.8
2001	61.6 [57.2-66.0]	34.6 [29.7-39.5]
2002	67.1 [62.8-71.4]	33.0 [28.7-37.2]
2003	58.5 [53.6-63.5]	31.1 [26.1-36.2]
2004	62.8 [57.3-68.4]	30.5 [25.0-35.9]
2005	60.7 [55.3-66.1]	31.1 [25.6-36.7]
2006	68.6 [62.9-74.2]	34.5 [28.7-40.3]
2007	65.1 [59.3-70.9]	30.5 [24.8-36.2]
2008	71.3 [66.6-76.0]	37.6 [31.9-43.3]
2009	60.3 [54.4-66.2]	28.7 [22.8-34.6]
2010	65.4 [59.6-71.3]	33.1 [27.1-39.2]
2011	56.0 [49.3-62.7]	26.0 [20.2-31.7]
2012	64.8 [58.1-71.5]	29.1 [23.3-34.9]
2013	60.7 [52.2-69.3]	35.5 [26.3-44.6]
2015	61.7 [51.3-72.1]	41.5 [30.2-52.7]
2017	54.7 [45.0-64.4]	31.1 [22.5-39.7]

Data sources: Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey, 2000-2012; Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey, 2013, 2015, 2107.

95% confidence intervals for in-text estimates

a: 57.5 [46.1-68.9]