The Ontario Tobacco Research Unit (OTRU) and the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) are launching The Expand Project, a social marketing campaign and research initiative to address smoking (and vaping) among queer and trans young adults in Toronto, Thunde

Research Letter Introduction Research on the implications of menthol cigarette bans is crucial to inform evidence-based decision-making and policy changes.1,2 In Canada, a series of provincial bans were implemented starting in May 2015, until a feder

Abstract Background and Aims The province of Ontario, Canada, banned the use of menthol-flavored tobacco products as of January 1, 2017. This study aims to assess the longer-term impact of a menthol ban on smoking behavior at 2 years, which is unknow

OTRU has been awarded funding to work in partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society to develop a social marketing campaign to better understand cigarette smoking and smoking culture among young adults who identify as LGBTQI2S+. This newsletter desc

Are smokers and vapers at higher risk of COVID-19 infection? This brief provides an overview of currently available evidence, including peer-reviewed literature, statements from hospitals and other health organizations, and news articles. We will pro

Continued tobacco use adversely affects cancer treatment outcomes. Specifically, continued smoking by cancer patients can accelerate disease progression, result in decreased overall and disease-specific survival, as well as increase the risk of disea

Abstract Introduction The legalization of nonmedical cannabis in 2018 may have important implications for tobacco use in Canada. There is a risk of renormalizing tobacco use with co-use of tobacco and cannabis introducing nontobacco users to tobacco.

Smoking cessation services are generally offered as one-time limited services with little or no follow-up cessation support. Many smokers take years to quit smoking, even when they have expressed a strong desire to quit. OTRU conducted a 12-month ran

Abstract No research has examined the prevalence of involuntary cannabis exposure in the home within the context of multi-unit housing (MUH). The 2017 cycle of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Monitor population RDD survey included measures

Abstract A growing body of research has shown that neighbourhood-level factors, such as the density of retail outlets selling tobacco and neighbourhood socioeconomic disadvantage affect smoking prevalence, with high levels of outlet density and neigh

Movies are a powerful vehicle for promoting tobacco use. Of particular concern is youth exposure to tobacco use in movies. This report examines onscreen tobacco exposure among Ontario youth over the period 2012 to 2018. In Ontario, over half of top-g

This special report presents the findings from simulation models that assessed the impact of five potential Tobacco Endgame interventions aimed at reaching the target smoking prevalence goal of less than 5% by 2035. The interventions included: plain

Abstract Objectives The province of Ontario, Canada, banned the use of menthol-flavoured tobacco products as of 1 January 2017. The long-term impact of a menthol ban on smoking behaviour has not been previously evaluated. Methods Population cohort st

OTRU continues to generate new knowledge to inform cessation policies and practices through the Research on Advancing Cessation Treatment (REACT) study. This newsletter highlights the findings from the ongoing knowledge synthesis, baseline survey for

While vaping, or e-cigarette use, might help adults quit smoking, the rapid uptake of these products by youth is alarming and raises concerns about the net public health benefit of vaping. OTRU’s RECIG-WP project conducted focus groups to gather insi

Abstract Background Menthol in cigarettes has been shown to increase regular cigarette smoking and nicotine dependence, and decrease success in smoking cessation. Owing to these reasons, in May 2015, the province of Ontario introduced a menthol ban o

The use of e-cigarettes—or vaping to quit—has become one of the most frequently used cessation methods among smokers trying to quit smoking cigarettes. In 2017, 32% of current or former smokers in Canada reported using an e-cigarette as a cessation a

Abstract Objective: We examined menthol cigarette smokers’ reactions to Ontario’s menthol cigarette ban. Methods: In April 2017, past-year adult menthol cigarette smokers from Ontario, Canada (N = 67; 64.2% women) participated in an onlin

Using Ontario Tobacco Survey data (a representative sample of Ontario adults) linked with health administrative data from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, we found a significant interaction effect between age and smoking status on dire

Abstract: Background: There are a limited number of studies that have examined the real-world effectiveness of smoking cessation aids and relapse longitudinally in population-representative samples. This study examines the association between use of

Ontario’s youth exposure to tobacco use in movies remains substantial. Requiring any movie that contains tobacco imagery be assigned an adult rating (18A) in Ontario could considerably decrease smoking initiation among youth. The 2017 data for top-gr

Using baseline data from Smokers’ Panel, this study explored gender differences in the use of smoking cessation services and resources. The study found that female smokers were more likely to use the nicotine patch, varenicline, Smokers’ Helpline pho

Includes Full Report, Executive Summary, chapter downloads and mini infographic posters Key Findings: In 2015, 20% of Ontarians aged 12 years or older used tobacco products in the past 30 days including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco an

Movies are a powerful vehicle for promoting tobacco use. Higher exposure to tobacco in movies increases the uptake of smoking among youth and undermines tobacco prevention efforts. This Special Report adds results for 2015 and 2016 and found that the

Despite declining prevalence of smoking in Ontario in the last few decades, rates of smoking cessation have not increased significantly in the last few years. OTRU will conduct Research on Advancing Cessation Treatment (REACT) to study the urgent nee

Key Findings: Past 30-day use of various tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff or chewing tobacco, but not including waterpipe and electronic cigarettes) reported by Ontarians aged 12 years or older was 20% – statistically lowe

Abstract Menthol cigarettes are associated with increased initiation and progression to regular smoking and decreased likelihood of smoking cessation. Menthol smokers are more likely to be women and adolescents in several countries. The Conference of

Of the more than 7000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, nicotine is one of the most widely assessed. Nicotine has been identified as the primary substance in tobacco that causes addiction and, as such, the main substance driving use of tobacco products. Fo

The Canadian government may be preparing regulations for plain and standardized packaging of cigarette products. This OTRU update examines the level of public support for plain packaging in Ontario, which is among the highest in the world. This high

With limited population-level research, myths about smoking cessation persist. Research from the Ontario Tobacco Survey (OTS) has improved our understanding of smoking cessation in the general population. Key facts and findings are summarized, includ

Abstract Objectives: Individuals seeking information about electronic cigarettes are increasingly turning to social media networks like Twitter. We surveyed dominant Twitter communications about e-cigarettes and smoking cessation, examining message s

Key Findings: Past 30-day use of various tobacco products (including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff or chewing tobacco, but not including waterpipe and electronic cigarettes) reported by Ontarians aged 12 years or older was 20% – statistically lowe

Movies are a powerful vehicle for promoting tobacco use. Higher exposure to tobacco in movies increases the uptake of smoking among youth and undermines tobacco prevention efforts. This Special Report examines the extent of onscreen tobacco exposure

Public debate abounds about e-cigarettes, their promotion, sale and use; concerns over youth uptake; the potential for renormalization of smoking; their effectiveness as a cessation aid; and their health impacts. OTRU, in partnership with the Centre

Smoking in movies is a cause for smoking initiation and progression to regular smoking among youth. Higher exposure to onscreen tobacco increases the uptake of smoking among youth and undermines tobacco prevention efforts. This report examines the ex

A risk categorization model for youth access enforcement was piloted in three public health units over a 12-month period in 2011-2012. Pilot findings suggest that 1) increasing the number of visits to moderate- and high-risk vendors can increase comp

Abstract Objectives: Current estimates indicate that cigarillo use has become commonplace among young adults in Canada despite the established risks to health. However, little else is known about patterns of cigarillo use in this subpopulation. The i

To view the Quitting Smoking in Ontario infographic in a larger size, right-click on the graphic and choose to open the image in a new tab. You can also download the poster information in PowerPoint format (each item on one slide). Poster References

The Ontario SimSmoke model was developed using the SimSmoke tobacco control policy model. Using population, policy, and smoking data for Ontario, the model assesses the effect on premature deaths and smoking prevalence of tobacco control policies, in

Using data from the 2012 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s CAMH Monitor, this update presents findings on the level of support among Ontario adults aged 18 years and older for assigning a Restricted or “R” rating to movies that show characters