2005-89
August 11, 2005
For immediate release
OTTAWA - The Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey results (CTUMS) released today show that smoking rates are now at their lowest in Canadian history. The data was collected between February and December 2004.
"I am very pleased to say that, for the first time, our annual smoking rate is at 20%," said Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh. "Nevertheless, the battle is not won yet. We must continue to work to reduce rates among high-risk groups, including young adults and aboriginal populations."
Statistics Canada conducts CTUMS on behalf of Health Canada. Results from CTUMS reveal that slightly more than 5 million Canadians, representing 20 per cent of the population aged 15 years and over, were current smokers. The annual rate for 2003 was 21 per cent.
Smoking among youth aged 15 to 19 remained stable compared to 2003 (18 per cent) with 11 per cent reporting daily smoking and 7 per cent occasionally smoking. The prevalence of smoking among young adults 20 to 24 years of age was 28 per cent in 2004, which is the lowest rate on record since Health Canada first reported smoking prevalence in 1965.
Not only are fewer Canadians smoking, but they are also smoking fewer cigarettes on a daily basis. In 1985, daily smokers consumed an average of 20.6 cigarettes per day. Since then, the number of cigarettes smoked has been gradually declining to the current level of 15.2 cigarettes per day reported for 2004.
Over the course of a year, CTUMS collects information over the telephone from over 20,000 respondents. Since its creation in 1999, CTUMS has provided up-to-date, reliable and consistent data on tobacco use in Canada. The survey is especially helpful in providing data on those who smoke and are at risk, such as youth aged 15 to 19 and young adults aged 20 to 24.
Smoking is the most preventable cause of disease and premature death in Canada. More than 45,000 people will die prematurely this year in Canada due to tobacco-use -- at least 1,000 non-smokers will die from exposure to second-hand smoke.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/tobac-tabac/research-recherche/stat/ctums-esutc/2004/index_e.html
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Media Enquiries:
Christopher Williams
Health Canada
(613) 946-4250
Brian Klunder
Office of the Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200
Public Enquiries:
(613) 957-2991
