Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey (CTNS): summary of results for 2019  

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Tobacco Products and Vape Use
• Alcohol and Cannabis Use
• Reference information

Introduction

The Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey (CTNS) 2019 measures the prevalence of cigarette smoking, vaping, alcohol and cannabis use among Canadians aged 15 years and older. CTNS is conducted by Statistics Canada on behalf of Health Canada.

Understanding Canadian trends in tobacco, nicotine, cannabis, and alcohol use is vital to the effective development, implementation and evaluation of national and provincial strategies, policies and programs.

The following summary presents findings based on the first CTNS seven-week data collection, which commenced October 29th, 2019 and ended December 17th, 2019. The results for 2019 are based on responses to an electronic questionnaire with telephone follow-up interviews from 8,614 respondents across all 10 provinces, representing a weighted total of 30.9 million Canadian residents aged 15 years and older. A set of detailed tables and some definitions used in this report are also provided.

Tobacco Products and Vape Use

Current Cigarette Smoking

The prevalence of current cigarette smoking in 2019 was 12% (3.7 million). There was no difference in the prevalence of current smoking between men (13% or 1.9 million) and women (11% or 1.7 million).

The prevalence of daily smoking was 9% (2.7 million) in 2019. There was no difference in the prevalence of daily smoking between men (9% or 1.3 million) and women (8% or 1.3 million).

The prevalence of occasional smoking was 3% (1.0 million) in 2019. The prevalence of occasional smoking was higher among men (4% or 602,000) than women (3% or 407,000).

Youth Cigarette Smoking (Aged 15 to 19 Years)

In 2019, the prevalence of current cigarette smoking among youth aged 15 to 19 was 5% (142,000). Occasional smoking among youth was 3% (82,000) and daily smoking was unreportable due to small sample size.

Young Adult Cigarette Smoking (Aged 20 to 24 Years)

The prevalence of current cigarette smoking among young adults aged 20 to 24 was 13% (240,000) in 2019. The prevalence of current smoking was not different between young adult men (15% or 145,000) and women (11% or 90,000).

The prevalence of daily smoking among young adults was 6% (101,000) and 8% (139,000) smoked occasionally.

Adult Cigarette Smoking (Aged 25 Years and Older)

The prevalence of current cigarette smoking among Canadian adults aged 25 years and older was 13% (3.3 million) in 2019. There was no difference in the prevalence of current smoking between men (13% or 1.7 million) and women (12% or 1.6 million).

The prevalence of daily smoking among adults was 9% (2.5 million) and occasional smoking was 3% (792,000). There was no difference in the prevalence of daily smoking between adult men (10% or 1.2 million) and adult women (9% or 1.3 million).

Use of Any Tobacco Product

The survey asked about past-30-day use of a number of tobacco products including: cigarettes, cigars, little cigars or cigarillos, chewing tobacco, water-pipe tobacco and pipes.

In 2019, 14% (4.3 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported using at least one tobacco product in the past 30 days. The prevalence of past-30-day use of at least one tobacco product was 7% (206,000) among youth aged 15 to 19, 18% (329,000) among young adults aged 20 to 24, and 14% (3.8 million) among adults aged 25 years and older. Past-30-day use of at least one tobacco product was higher among men (16% or 2.4 million) than women (12% or 1.9 million).

Cigars

In 2019, 3% (873,000) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported smoking any type of cigar^{Footnote 1} in the past 30 days. The prevalence of smoking any type of cigar in the past 30 days was 3% (84,000) among youth aged 15 to 19, 5% (91,000) among young adults aged 20 to 24, and 3% (697,000) among adults aged 25 years and over. Smoking any type of cigar was higher among men (4% or 681,000) than women (1% or 191,000).

Two percent (2% or 581,000) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported smoking little cigars or cigarillos in the past 30 days. Four percent (4% or 70,000) of young adults aged 20 to 24 reported smoking a little cigar or cigarillo in the past 30 days, and 2% (441,000) of adults aged 25 years and older reported the same. The prevalence of smoking little cigars or cigarillos in the past 30 days among youth aged 15 to 19 was unreportable due to small sample size.

Water-pipe Tobacco

Past-30-day use of a water-pipe to smoke tobacco was reported by 0.4% (127,000) of Canadians aged 15 years and older.

Chewing Tobacco

In 2019, the prevalence of past-30-day chewing tobacco use was 0.4% (124,000) among Canadians aged 15 years and older.

Smoking Cessation

In 2019, 24% (7.6 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported being former smokers. Three percent (3% or 248,000) of former smokers had quit less than one year ago (short-term quitters), while the remaining 97% (7.3 million) had quit for one year or more (long-term quitters).

The most popular cessation methods^{Footnote 2} reported by recent quitters and current smokers who made at least one quit attempt in the past 12 months were "quitting on their own, without special preparation or help" (70% or 1.2 million), "reducing their number of cigarettes" (54% or 923,000), and "switching to vaping" (35% or 622,000).

Among daily cigarette smokers aged 15 years and older, 42% (1.1 million) had made at least one quit attempt lasting 24 hours in the past year.

Vaping^{Footnote 3}

In 2019, 16% (5.0 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older had ever vaped. The prevalence of ever vaping was 36% (1.0 million) among youth aged 15 to 19, 48% (868,000) among young adults aged 20 to 24, and 12% (3.1 million) among adults aged 25 years and older. Eighteen percent (18% or 2.7 million) of men had ever tried vaping, which was higher than women (14% or 2.2 million).

Past-30-day vaping was reported by 5% (1.5 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older. The prevalence of past-30-day vaping was 15% (424,000) among youth aged 15 to 19, 15% (275,000) among young adults aged 20 to 24, and 3% (761,000) among adults aged 25 years and older. Past-30-day vaping was higher among men (6% or 885,000) than women (4% or 564,000).

Among past-30-day vape users, 38% (558,000) were current smokers, 25% (365,000) were former smokers and 37% (536,000) were never smokers. Never smokers made up the majority of past-30-day vape users among youth aged 15 to 19 (74% or 314,000). The majority of past-30-day vapers were either current or former smokers among young adults aged 20-24 (59% or 162,000) and adults 25+ (86% or 652,000).

Among Canadians aged 15 years and older who had used a vape in the past 30 days, 42% reported using a fruit flavour most often, 18% mint or menthol and 14% tobacco flavour. Half of youth aged 15 to 19 (51%) and young adults aged 20 to 24 (48%) reported using a fruit flavour most often, while among adults aged 25 years and older, 35% reported using a fruit flavour and 22% reported using tobacco flavour.

Among Canadians who had used a vape in the past 30 days, 84% (1.2 million) reported vaping an e-liquid containing nicotine, 19% (243,000) reported vaping an e-liquid that did not contain nicotine, and 6% (78,000) reported vaping an e-liquid with unknown nicotine content over the same time period^{Footnote 2}.

Vape Sources and Reasons for Use

In 2019, past-30-day vape users were asked where they usually get their vaping devices. The majority of Canadians aged 15 years and over that used a vape in the past 30 days reported using retail sources to get their vaping devices (69%). Retail sources included vape shops, convenience or gas, supermarkets, grocery stores, drug stores, and online sales. Among youth aged 15 to 19 who used a vape in the past 30 days, most (57%) reported using social sources for their devices. Social sources included buying from a friend or family member, asking someone else to buy them for you, and having a friend or family member give or lend them to you. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of young adults aged 20 to 24 and 85% of adults aged 25 and over that used a vape in the past 30 days reported using retail sources to obtain their vaping devices.

Past-30-day vape users were also asked where they usually get their vaping liquids. The majority of Canadians aged 15 years and over that used a vape in the past 30 days reported using retail sources to get their vaping liquids (69%). Among youth aged 15 to 19 who used a vape in the past 30 days, most (57%) reported using social sources for their vaping liquids. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of young adults aged 20 to 24, and 86% of adults aged 25 and over that used a vape in the past 30 days reported using retail sources to obtain their vaping liquids.

Among Canadians aged 15 years and over who used a vape in the past 30 days, the most commonly reported reasons for vaping were smoking cessation (27%), curiosity (20%), and because they enjoyed it (20%). The most commonly reported reasons for vaping among youth aged 15 to 19 who used a vape past 30 days were curiosity (29%), because they enjoyed it (29%), and to reduce stress (21%). Among young adults aged 20 to 24 who used a vape in the past 30 days, the most common reasons for vaping were curiosity (27%) and smoking cessation (20%), while among adults aged 25 and over, the most common reasons were smoking cessation (41%) and to avoid returning to smoking (15%).

Vaping Cessation

In 2019, 31% (199,000) of Canadian daily vape users aged 15 years and older made least one quit attempt lasting 24 hours in the past year. The majority (63% or 81,000) of youth aged 15 to 19 that used a vape daily made at least one quit attempt in the past 12 months. The proportion of daily vape users that made at least one quit attempt in the past year was unreportable for young adults aged 20 to 24 and adults aged 25 years and older.

Perceived Risk of Harm of Vapes in Comparison to Cigarettes

Canadians were asked how harmful using vaping devices with nicotine were to a person's health compared to smoking cigarettes. The majority of Canadians thought that using a vaping device was either "about the same as cigarettes" in terms of harm (32%) or didn't know (28%). Among Canadians who used a vape in the past-30-days, the majority thought using a vaping device was either "much less harmful than cigarettes" (30%) or "somewhat less harmful than cigarettes" (30%). Among Canadians who were current smokers, the majority either didn't know how harmful using a vaping device was in comparison to cigarettes (29%) or thought that using a vaping device was "about the same as cigarettes" in terms of harm (25%).

Provinces

Provincial prevalence of current smoking for Canadians aged 15 years and older ranged from a low of 10% in Alberta and British Columbia to a high of 17% in New Brunswick.

Past-30-day use of at least one tobacco product (cigarettes, cigars, little cigars or cigarillos, chewing tobacco, water-pipe and pipe) ranged from a low of 13% in Alberta and British Columbia to a high of 19% in Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan.

Past-30-day use of vapes ranged from a low of 4% in Alberta and Ontario to a high of 9% in Manitoba.

Alcohol and Cannabis Use

Alcohol Use

In 2019, 62% (19.3 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported using alcohol in the past 30 days. The prevalence of using alcohol in the past 30 days was 35% (993,000) among youth aged 15 to 19, 75% (1.3 million) among young adults aged 20 to 24, and 64% (16.9 million) among adults aged 25 years and over. Past-30-day alcohol use was higher among men (66% or 10.1 million) than women (58% or 9.1 million).

Smoking Cannabis

In 2019, 40% (12.0 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported ever smoking cannabis. The prevalence of ever smoking cannabis was 25% (699,000) among youth aged 15 to 19, 55% (990,000) among young adults aged 20 to 24, and 39% (10.3 million) among adults aged 25 years and over. The prevalence of ever smoking cannabis was higher among men (41% or 6.2 million) than women (37% or 5.8 million).

Smoking cannabis in the past 30 days was reported by 10% (3.2 million) of all Canadians aged 15 years and older. The prevalence of smoking cannabis in the past 30 days was 13% (363,000) among youth aged 15 to 19, 26% (465,000) among young adults aged 20 to 24, and 9% (2.4 million) among adults aged 25 years and over. Thirteen percent (13% or 2.0 million) of men reported smoking cannabis in the past 30 days, which was higher than women (8% or 1.3 million).

Vaping Cannabis

In 2019, 9% (2.7 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported ever vaping cannabis. The prevalence of ever vaping cannabis was 11% (311,000) among youth aged 15 to 19, 23% (406,000) among young adults aged 20 to 24, and 8% (2.0 million) among adults aged 25 years and over. The prevalence of ever vaping cannabis was higher among men (10% or 1.5 million) than women (8% or 1.2 million).

Vaping cannabis in the past 30 days was reported by 3% (907,000) of all Canadians aged 15 years and older. The prevalence of vaping cannabis in the past 30 days was 3% (97,000) among youth aged 15 to 19, 7% (119,000) among young adults aged 20 to 24, and 3% (691,000) among adults aged 25 years and over. Four percent (4% or 596,000) of men reported vaping cannabis in the past 30 days, which was higher than women (2% or 305,000).

Reference information

Statistics Canada conducts CTNS on behalf of Health Canada. The target population for CTNS is non-institutionalized persons 15 years of age or older, living in Canada's ten provinces, who are not members of collectives or living on reserves.

A sample of about 8,500 respondents consists of about 2,000 individuals aged 15 to 24, and 6,500 individuals aged 25 years and older across Canada.

CTNS data were collected directly from respondents either through an electronic questionnaire or telephone follow-up interviews. The sample for ages 15 to 24 were targeted respondents where the person is the sampling unit. The sample for ages 25 and older had a two stage sampling design where the sampling unit for the first stage is dwelling and the sampling unit for the second stage was person. The overall response rate for CTNS was 44.4%. Additional information about CTNS methodology can be found on Statistics Canada's website at:

https://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS=5305.

For the purposes of this report only univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted, with a t-test used to determine if results are statistically significantly different from one another. The data presented in this report have been weighted to allow the results to be generalized to the Canadian population.

For more information about the survey and the tobacco and vaping results, please write to the Office of Research and Surveillance, Tobacco Control Directorate, Health Canada, Address Locator 0301A, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, or send an e-mail request to hc.ctads.questions-ectad.sc@canada.ca.

For information on the public-use microdata file, please contact Statistics Canada's Client Services, Centre for Social Data Integration and Development by e-mail (csdid-info-cidds@canada.ca), or by calling the toll-free telephone number (1-800-461-9050).