Tobacco & Vapour Products - The Facts

The Tobacco Industry

The Tobacco Industry is always looking to create new tobacco products to entice youth to start using tobacco. Some of these products are regulated and permitted in Canada, while others are not. All tobacco products and tobacco exposure are harmful and can have negative health effects.

Get the Facts

• Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death and illness in Canada and costs the province of Ontario $7.73 billion annually³
• In the 20th Century approximately 100 million deaths were because of tobacco and almost half of current users will die as a result of tobacco related illness⁴
• In Canada alone, every 10 minutes, 2 teenagers will start smoking cigarettes, and one of them will lose their life because of it⁵
• In Middlesex-London 19% over the age of 12 are current daily or occasional smokers⁶; 26.1 % of current daily or occasional smokers are 20-34 years of age, with more males smoking than females⁷
• In 2012, 11% of youth 15-19 in Canada smoke, with 7% being daily smokers and 4% smoking occasionally⁸
• In 2012, 20% of young adults 20-24, reported smoking in Canada, with 13% of these smokers being daily users. Young adult males smoked more than females.⁸
• 16% of the Canadian population aged 15 and up reported being a smoker in 2012; 12% are daily smokers, 4.3% smoke occasionally⁸; 18% of Canadian males smoke, compared to 14% of Canadian females⁸
• According to the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey, 10% of students in grades 7-12 reported using a Waterpipe (“Hookah”) in the past year, and 15% of students in grades 9-12 reported using an electronic cigarette at least once in their life⁹
• The most common way youth obtain cigarettes is from a social source such as family or friends¹⁰,¹¹
• In 2010 /2011, 52% of Canadian youth reported using a flavoured tobacco product in the last 30 days¹²