Abstract
Data from 29,296 students in grades 9–12 as part of the 2008–2009 Youth Smoking Survey were used to examine the prevalence
of cigar, cigarillo, and little cigar use and factors associated with their use. Among Canadian youth in grades 9–12, 12.9%
reported current use of cigarillos or little cigars, and 8.1% reported current use of cigars. The characteristics of youth
most likely to use either cigars or cigarillos and little cigars were being male, being in grade 11 or 12, being a daily or
occasional cigarette smoker, having more than $20 of weekly spending money, and having ever tried flavored tobacco. Our findings
suggest that cigars, cigarillos, and little cigars are used by a substantial number of Canadian youth, many of whom do not
smoke cigarettes. As such, current national prevalence estimates of youth smoking may be underestimated, and existing tobacco
control prevention programs and policies may be overlooking a large population of at-risk youth.
of cigar, cigarillo, and little cigar use and factors associated with their use. Among Canadian youth in grades 9–12, 12.9%
reported current use of cigarillos or little cigars, and 8.1% reported current use of cigars. The characteristics of youth
most likely to use either cigars or cigarillos and little cigars were being male, being in grade 11 or 12, being a daily or
occasional cigarette smoker, having more than $20 of weekly spending money, and having ever tried flavored tobacco. Our findings
suggest that cigars, cigarillos, and little cigars are used by a substantial number of Canadian youth, many of whom do not
smoke cigarettes. As such, current national prevalence estimates of youth smoking may be underestimated, and existing tobacco
control prevention programs and policies may be overlooking a large population of at-risk youth.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s10935-011-0248-6
- Authors
- Scott T. Leatherdale, Department of Health Studies and Gerontology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
- Patricia Rios, Department of Health Studies and Gerontology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
- Tara Elton-Marshall, Propel Centre for Population Health Impact, Canadian Cancer Society and the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
- Robin Burkhalter, Propel Centre for Population Health Impact, Canadian Cancer Society and the University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
- Journal The Journal of Primary Prevention
- Online ISSN 1573-6547
- Print ISSN 0278-095X