Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey (CTNS): Summary of results for 2021

Table of contents

• Introduction
• Cigarette smoking
• Other tobacco products
• Vaping
• Perceived risk of harm
• Provinces
• Alcohol use
• Cannabis use
• Reference information

Introduction

The Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey (CTNS) 2021 measures the prevalence of cigarette smoking, vaping, cannabis, and alcohol 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 seven weeks of data collection for the third cycle of CTNS, which commenced December 15, 2021 and ended February 4, 2022. The results for CTNS 2021 are based on responses to an electronic questionnaire or telephone follow-up interviews from 9,908 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.

Cigarette smoking

Current Cigarette Smoking

The prevalence of current cigarette smoking among Canadians aged 15 years and older in 2021 was 10.2% [95% CI: 9.4, 11.0] (3.2 million), unchanged from 2020. A higher percentage of men (11.8% [95% CI: 10.5, 13.0] or 1.8 million) than women (8.5% [95% CI: 7.5, 9.5] or 1.3 million) reported current smoking. In 2021, 7.8% [95% CI: 7.0, 8.5] (2.4 million) of Canadians reported daily smoking and 2.5% [95% CI: 2.0, 2.9] (758,000) reported occasional smoking. A higher percentage of men (8.7% [95% CI: 7.6, 9.9] or 1.3 million) than women (6.6% [95% CI: 5.7, 7.5] or 1.0 million) reported daily smoking.

Youth Cigarette Smoking (Aged 15 to 19 Years)

In 2021, the prevalence of current cigarette smoking among youth aged 15 to 19 years was 3.3% [95% CI: 2.4, 4.2] (68,000), unchanged from 2020. The prevalence of daily and occasional smoking among youth was 1.1% [95% CI: 0.6, 1.6] (23,000) and 2.2% [95% CI: 1.5, 2.9] (45,000), respectively.

Young Adult Cigarette Smoking (Aged 20 to 24 Years)

In 2021, the prevalence of current cigarette smoking among young adults aged 20 to 24 years was 9.8% [95% CI: 8.5, 11.2] (236,000), unchanged from 2020. The prevalence of current smoking was higher among young adult men (13.2% [95% CI: 11.0, 15.4] or 165,000) than women (6.1% [95% CI: 4.6, 7.6] or 70,000).

Among young adults aged 20 to 24 years, the prevalence of daily and occasional smoking was 4.9% [95% CI: 3.9, 5.9] (118,000) and 4.9% [95% CI: 4.0, 5.9] (118,000), respectively. The prevalence of daily smoking was higher among young adult men (6.5% [95% CI: 4.9, 8.1] or 81,000) than young adult women (3.1% [95% CI: 2.0, 4.2] or 36,000).

Adult Cigarette Smoking (Aged 25 Years and Older)

In 2021, the prevalence of current cigarette smoking among Canadian adults aged 25 years and older was 10.8% [95% CI: 9.9, 11.7] (2.8 million), unchanged from 2020. The prevalence of current smoking was higher among adult men (12.3% [95% CI: 10.8, 13.8] or 1.6 million) than adult women (9.2% [95% CI: 8.0, 10.3] or 1.2 million).

Among adults aged 25 years and older, the prevalence of daily smoking and occasional smoking was 8.5% [95% CI: 7.7, 9.4] (2.3 million) and 2.3% [95% CI: 1.8, 2.7] (595,000), respectively. The prevalence of daily smoking was higher among adult men (9.6% [95% CI: 8.2, 10.9] or 1.2 million) than adult women (7.4% [95% CI: 6.3, 8.4] or 987,000).

Smoking Cessation

In 2021, the prevalence of former smoking was 22.7% [95% CI: 21.6, 23.7] (7.0 million) among Canadians aged 15 years and older, a decrease from 2020. Among those who reported former smoking, 4.1% [95% CI: 3.0, 5.1] (285,000) had quit less than one year ago, 5.9% [95% CI: 4.6, 7.3] (415,000) had quit between 1 and 2 years ago, 7.8% [95% CI: 6.1, 9.4] (542,000) had quit between 3 and 5 years ago, and 82.2% [95% CI: 80.1, 84.4] (5.7 million) had quit over 5 years ago.

The most popular cessation methods^{Footnote i} used by those who reported current smoking or quitting smoking within the past 12 months who made at least one quit attempt in the past 12 months were "[trying] to quit on [their] own, without special preparation or help" (64.4% [95% CI: 57.8, 71.0] or 920,000), "[reducing] the number of cigarettes [they] smoked" (51.4% [95% CI: 45.0, 57.8] or 733,000), and "[using] nicotine replacement products" (27.7% [95% CI: 21.9, 33.4] or 392,000).

Among Canadian aged 15 years and older who reported daily smoking, 38.3% [95% CI: 33.6, 43.1] (915,000) had made at least one quit attempt lasting 24 hours in the past year.

Other tobacco products

Use of Any Tobacco Product

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

In 2021, 11.9% [95% CI: 11.0, 12.7] (3.6 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported using at least one tobacco product in the past 30 days, unchanged from 2020. The prevalence of past-30-day use of at least one tobacco product was 5.3% [95% CI: 4.2, 6.5] (109,000) among youth aged 15 to 19 years, 12.7% [95% CI: 11.2, 14.2] (304,000) among young adults aged 20 to 24 years, and 12.3% [95% CI: 11.3, 13.3] (3.2 million) among adults 25 years and older, all unchanged from 2020.

Among Canadians aged 15 years and older, past-30-day use of at least one tobacco product was higher among men (14.5% [95% CI: 13.1, 15.9] or 2.2 million) than women (9.1% [95% CI: 8.1, 10.1] or 1.4 million). The prevalence of past-30-day use of at least one tobacco product among young adult men aged 20 to 24 years (17.2% [95% CI: 14.7, 19.6] or 214,000) was higher than among young adult women (7.7% [95% CI: 6.0, 9.4] or 89,000). The prevalence of past-30-day use of at least one tobacco product among adult men aged 25 years and older (15.0% [95% CI: 13.4, 16.6] or 1.9 million) was higher than among adult women (9.5% [95% CI: 8.4, 10.7] or 1.3 million).

Cigars

In 2021, 2.3% [95% CI: 1.9, 2.6] (694,000) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported smoking any type of cigar^{Footnote ii} in the past 30 days, unchanged from 2020. The prevalence of smoking any type of cigar in the past 30 days was 2.6% [95% CI: 1.8, 3.4] (53,000) among youth aged 15 to 19 years, 3.6% [95% CI: 2.7, 4.4] (86,000) among young adults aged 20 to 24 years, and 2.1% [95% CI: 1.7, 2.6] (555,000) among adults aged 25 years and older. Among Canadians aged 15 years and older, smoking any type of cigar was higher among men (3.5% [95% CI: 2.8, 4.2] or 525,000) than women (1.0% [95% CI: 0.7, 1.3] or 157,000).

In 2021, 1.6% [95% CI: 1.3, 1.9] (489,000) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported smoking little cigars or cigarillos in the past 30 days, unchanged from 2020. The prevalence of smoking a little cigar or cigarillo in the past 30 days was 2.0% [95% CI: 1.3, 2.6] (40,000) among youth aged 15 to 19 years, 2.3% [95% CI: 1.6, 3.0] (55,000) among young adults aged 20 to 24 years, and 1.5% [95% CI: 1.1, 1.9] (394,000) among adults aged 25 years and older.

Pipes

In 2021, 0.3% [95% CI: 0.2, 0.5] (101,000) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported using a traditional pipe to smoke tobacco in the past 30 days, unchanged from 2020.

Chewing Tobacco

In 2021, 0.4% [95% CI: 0.3, 0.6] (137,000) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported using chewing tobacco in the past 30 days, unchanged from 2020.

Water-pipe Tobacco

In 2021, 0.4% [95% CI: 0.2, 0.6] (125,000) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported using a water-pipe to smoke tobacco in the past 30 days, unchanged from 2020.

Vaping^{Footnote iii}

In 2021, 17.0% [95% CI: 16.1, 18.0] (5.3 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older had ever vaped. The prevalence of ever vaping was 29.1% [95% CI: 26.8, 31.4] (601,000) among youth aged 15 to 19 years, 47.6% [95% CI: 45.3, 49.8] (1.1 million) among young adults aged 20 to 24 years, and 13.3% [95% CI: 12.3, 14.3] (3.5 million) among adults aged 25 years and older. Among Canadians aged 15 years and older, 19.7% [95% CI: 18.2, 21.2] (3.0 million) of men had ever tried vaping, which was higher than women (14.0% [95% CI: 12.9, 15.2] or 2.2 million).

In 2021, 5.2% [95% CI: 4.7, 5.8] (1.6 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported vaping in the past 30 days, unchanged from 2020. The prevalence of past-30-day vaping was 12.7% [95% CI: 11.1, 14.4] (262,000) among youth aged 15 to 19 years, 17.2% [95% CI: 15.5, 18.9] (414,000) among young adults aged 20 to 24 years, and 3.6% [95% CI: 3.0, 4.2] (944,000) among adults aged 25 years and older. Among young adults aged 20 to 24 years, the prevalence of past-30-day vaping (17.2% [95% CI: 15.5, 18.9] or 414,000) increased from 2020, and this increase was observed among both young adult men and women. In addition, there was also an increase in daily vaping among young adults aged 20 to 24 years (9.0% [95% CI: 7.7, 10.3] or 216,000) compared to 2020. Among Canadians aged 15 years and older, past-30-day vaping was higher among men (5.7% [95% CI: 4.9, 6.5] or 867,000) than women (4.5% [95% CI: 3.8, 5.2] or 704,000).

Among Canadians aged 15 years and older who used a vape in the past 30 days, 36.4% [95% CI: 31.2, 41.6] (587,000) reported current smoking, 30.8% [95% CI: 25.4, 36.3] (497,000) reported former smoking and 32.8% [95% CI: 28.5, 37.1] (529,000) reported never smoking. Those who reported never smoking made up over three-quarters of youth aged 15 to 19 years who reported past-30-day vaping (79.2% [95% CI: 73.9, 84.5] or 204,000) and approximately half of young adults aged 20 to 24 years who reported past-30-day vaping (50.4% [95% CI: 44.9, 55.9] or 207,000). Those who reported current and former smoking made up most adults aged 25 years and older who reported past-30-day vaping (87.6% [95% CI: 81.7, 93.5] or 827,000).

Among Canadians aged 15 years and older who used a vape in the past 30 days, 83.1% [95% CI: 78.6, 87.5] (1.3 million) reported vaping an e-liquid containing nicotine, 14.6% [95% CI: 10.4, 18.9] (196,000) reported vaping an e-liquid that did not contain nicotine, and 7.7% [95% CI: 4.6, 10.8] (104,000) reported vaping an e-liquid with unknown content over the same time period.^{Footnote iv}

Vaping Flavours, Sources, and Reasons for Use

Among Canadians aged 15 years and older who used a vape in the past 30 days, 52.9% [95% CI: 47.6, 58.3] (858,000) reported using a fruit flavour most often, 18.0% [95% CI: 13.7, 22.3] (292,000) reported using a mint or menthol flavour, and 8.3% [95% CI: 5.2, 11.3] (134,000) reported using a tobacco flavour. More than half of youth aged 15 to 19 years (65.0% [95% CI: 58.8, 71.3] or 171,000) and young adults aged 20 to 24 years (56.5% [95% CI: 51.0, 62.1] or 234,000) reported using a fruit flavour most often. Among adults aged 25 years and older, just under half (48.0% [95% CI: 39.5, 56.5] or 453,000) reported using a fruit flavour most often.

The survey asked Canadians who used a vape in the past 30 days where they usually get their vaping devices.^{Footnote v} Among Canadians aged 15 years and older who used a vape in the past 30 days, 79.7% [95% CI: 75.8, 83.6] (1.3 million) reported using retail sources to get their vaping devices. Retail sources included vape shops, convenience or gas, supermarkets, grocery stores, drug stores, and online sales. Among youth aged 15 to 19 years who used a vape in the past 30 days, 52.4% [95% CI: 45.4, 59.4] (137,000) reported using social sources to get their vaping 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. Additionally, 85.5% [95% CI: 81.7, 89.4] (353,000) of young adults aged 20 to 24 years and 86.3% [95% CI: 80.5, 92.2] (806,000) of adults aged 25 years and older who used a vape in the past 30 days reported using retail sources to obtain their vaping devices.

The survey also asked Canadians who used a vape in the past 30 days where they usually get their vaping liquids.^{Footnote vi} Among Canadians aged 15 years and older who used a vape in the past 30 days, 79.3% [95% CI: 75.3, 83.3] (1.3 million) reported using retail sources to get their vaping liquids. Among youth aged 15 to 19 years who used a vape in the past 30 days, 49.3% [95% CI: 42.5, 56.1] (128,000) reported using social sources for their vaping liquids. Additionally, 84.0% [95% CI: 79.9, 88.0] (346,000) of young adults aged 20 to 24 years and 85.4% [95% CI: 79.4, 91.4] (797,000) of adults aged 25 years and older who used a vape in the past 30 days reported using retail sources to obtain their vaping liquids.

Among Canadians aged 15 years and older who used a vape in the past 30 days, the most common reasons for vaping were smoking cessation^{Footnote vii} (25.8% [95% CI: 20.8, 30.9] or 417,000), because they enjoy it (19.5% [95% CI: 15.1, 23.9] or 315,000), and to reduce stress (17.7% [95% CI: 14.3, 21.2] or 286,000). The most common reasons for vaping among youth aged 15 to 19 years who used a vape past 30 days were to reduce stress (32.6% [95% CI: 26.3, 38.9] or 86,000), because they enjoy it (28.1% [95% CI: 22.3, 34.0] or 74,000), and curiosity (23.8% [95% CI: 18.1, 29.6] or 63,000). Among young adults aged 20 to 24 years who used a vape in the past 30 days, the most common reasons for vaping were because they enjoy it (26.5% [95% CI: 21.8, 31.2] or 110,000) and to reduce stress (25.5% [95% CI: 21.0, 30.0] or 106,000), while among adults aged 25 years and older, the most common reasons were smoking cessation (37.4% [95% CI: 29.1, 45.8] or 351,000) and to avoid returning to smoking (20.2% [95% CI: 13.5, 26.9] or 190,000).

Vaping Cessation

In 2021, 34.0% [95% CI: 27.0, 41.1] (295,000) of Canadians aged 15 years and older who reported daily vaping made at least one quit attempt lasting 24 hours in the past year. The majority of youth aged 15 to 19 years (56.5% [95% CI: 46.9, 66.1] or 68,000) and young adults aged 20 to 24 years (52.4% [95% CI: 45.1, 59.7] or 113,000) who reported daily vaping made at least one quit attempt in the past 12 months. The proportion of adults aged 25 years and older who reported daily vaping that made at least one quit attempt in the past year was 21.5% [95% CI: 10.8, 32.2] (114,000).

Perceived risk of harm

The survey asked Canadians, in their opinion, how harmful using vaping devices with nicotine were to a person's health compared to smoking cigarettes. The majority of Canadians aged 15 years and older thought that using a vaping device with nicotine was either "about the same as cigarettes" in terms of harm (32.2% [95% CI: 31.0, 33.5] or 9.9 million) or didn't know (33.2% [95% CI: 32.0, 34.5] or 10.2 million). Among Canadians who used a vape in the past 30 days, the majority thought using a vaping device with nicotine was either "much less harmful than cigarettes" (27.4% [95% CI: 22.5, 32.3] or 444,000) or "somewhat less harmful than cigarettes" (33.0% [95% CI: 28.0, 38.0] or 534,000). Among Canadians who reported smoking in the past 30 days, the majority either didn't know how harmful using a vaping device with nicotine was in comparison to cigarettes (27.8% [95% CI: 24.0, 31.5] or 873,000) or thought that using a vaping device with nicotine was "about the same as cigarettes" in terms of harm (29.3% [95% CI: 25.3, 33.3] or 921,000).

Provinces

The prevalence of current smoking among those aged 15 years and older ranged from a low of 8.2% [95% CI: 6.0, 10.3] in Alberta to a high of 12.8% [95% CI: 9.2, 16.4] in Manitoba.

Past-30-day use of at least one tobacco product (cigarettes, cigars, little cigars or cigarillos, chewing tobacco, water-pipe and pipe) among those aged 15 years and older ranged from a low of 9.7% [95% CI: 7.3, 12.0] in Alberta to a high of 15.8% [95% CI: 11.7, 19.8] in Nova Scotia.

Past-30-day vaping among those aged 15 years and older ranged from a low of 3.9% [95% CI: 2.8, 5.0] in British Columbia to a high of 8.6% [95% CI: 4.6, 12.7] in New Brunswick.

Alcohol use

In 2021, 63.0% [95% CI: 61.7, 64.2] (19.5 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported using alcohol in the past 30 days, unchanged from 2020. The prevalence of using alcohol in the past 30 days was 35.2% [95% CI: 32.9, 37.4] (729,000) among youth aged 15 to 19 years, 64.1% [95% CI: 61.9, 66.4] (1.5 million) among young adults aged 20 to 24 years, and 65.1% [95% CI: 63.6, 66.5] (17.2 million) among adults aged 25 years and older. Among Canadians aged 15 years and older, past-30-day alcohol use was higher among men (65.9% [95% CI: 64.1, 67.6] or 10.0 million) than women (60.2% [95% CI: 58.3, 62.0] or 9.4 million).

The survey also asked about heavy alcohol use, referring to having four or more drinks on one occasion (at the same time or within a couple hours of each other). In 2021, 48.8% [95% CI: 47.4, 50.1] (15.0 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported heavy alcohol use in the past 12 months. The prevalence of heavy alcohol use in the past 12 months was 34.3% [95% CI: 32.0, 36.6] (709,000) among youth aged 15 to 19 years, 65.4% [95% CI: 63.2, 67.7] (1.6 million) among young adults aged 20 to 24 years, and 48.4% [95% CI: 46.8, 49.9] (12.8 million) among adults aged 25 years and older. Among Canadians aged 15 years and older, past-12-month heavy alcohol use was higher among men (54.2% [95% CI: 52.3, 56.1] or 8.2 million) than women (43.3% [95% CI: 41.5, 45.2] or 6.7 million).

Cannabis use

Smoking Cannabis

In 2021, 38.6% [95% CI: 37.3, 39.8] (11.9 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported ever smoking cannabis, unchanged from 2020. The prevalence of ever smoking cannabis was 19.9% [95% CI: 17.9, 21.9] (411,000) among youth aged 15 to 19 years, 54.1% [95% CI: 51.8, 56.5] (1.3 million) among young adults aged 20 to 24 years, and 38.6% [95% CI: 37.2, 40.0] (10.2 million) among adults aged 25 years and older. Among Canadians aged 15 years and older, the prevalence of ever smoking cannabis was higher among men (41.7% [95% CI: 39.8, 43.6] or 6.3 million) than women (35.1% [95% CI: 33.4, 36.7] or 5.5 million).

Smoking cannabis in the past 30 days was reported by 10.4% [95% CI: 9.6, 11.2] (3.2 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older, unchanged from 2020. The prevalence of smoking cannabis in the past 30 days was 10.8% [95% CI: 9.2, 12.3] (222,000) among youth aged 15 to 19 years, 24.0% [95% CI: 22.1, 25.9] (578,000) among young adults aged 20 to 24 years, and 9.1% [95% CI: 8.3, 10.0] (2.4 million) among adults aged 25 years and older. Among Canadians 15 years and older, 12.7% [95% CI: 11.5, 14.0] (1.9 million) of men reported smoking cannabis in the past 30 days, which was higher than women (7.5% [95% CI: 6.6, 8.4] or 1.2 million).

Vaping Cannabis

In 2021, 11.6% [95% CI: 10.8, 12.4] (3.6 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported ever vaping cannabis, unchanged from 2020. The prevalence of ever vaping cannabis was 13.2% [95% CI: 11.5, 14.9] (274,000) among youth aged 15 to 19 years, 27.5% [95% CI: 25.5, 29.4] (661,000) among young adults aged 20 to 24 years, and 10.0% [95% CI: 9.1, 11.0] (2.6 million) among adults aged 25 years and older. Among Canadians 15 years and older, the prevalence of ever vaping cannabis was higher among men (13.2% [95% CI: 11.9, 14.4] or 2.0 million) than women (9.6% [95% CI: 8.5, 10.6] or 1.5 million).

Vaping cannabis in the past 30 days was reported by 4.7% [95% CI: 4.1, 5.2] (1.4 million) of Canadians aged 15 years and older, an increase from 2020. The prevalence of vaping cannabis in the past 30 days was 6.2% [95% CI: 5.0, 7.3] (128,000) among youth aged 15 to 19 years, 11.6% [95% CI: 10.1, 13.1] (279,000) among young adults aged 20 to 24 years, and 3.9% [95% CI: 3.3, 4.5] (1.0 million) among adults aged 25 years and older. Compared to 2020, the prevalence of vaping cannabis in the past 30 days increased among youth aged 15 to 19 years and adults aged 25 years and older. Among Canadians 15 years and older, 5.0% [95% CI: 4.2, 5.9] (764,000) of men reported vaping cannabis in the past 30 days, which was higher than women (3.9% [95% CI: 3.2, 4.6] or 605,000).

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 9,908 respondents consisted of 4,453 individuals aged 15 to 24, and 5,455 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 years were targeted respondents where the person is the sampling unit. The sample for ages 25 years 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 2021 was 42%. Additional information about CTNS methodology can be found on Statistics Canada's website at:

Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey (CTNS)

For the purposes of this report, only univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted, with a z-test for proportions 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 Tobacco Control Directorate, Health Canada, Address Locator 0301A, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, or send an e-mail request to: tcp.questions-plt@hc-sc.gc.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 (statcan.csdidclientservice-ciddsservicealaclientele.statcan@canada.ca), or by calling the toll-free telephone number (1-800-461-9050).