Five years of struggle and setbacks This year marks the fifth anniversary of Canada’s Tobacco Endgame Summit. On September 30, 2016, dozens of tobacco control researchers, leaders, advocates and policy makers from across the country converged at Quee

Abstract Objectives To determine the return on investment (ROI) associated with tobacco control policies implemented between 2001 and 2016 in Canada. Methods Canadian expenditures on tobacco policies were collected from government sources. The econom

Abstract Marginalized populations are being disproportionally affected by the current pandemic. Direct effects include higher infection rates with greater morbidity and mortality; indirect effects stem from the societal response to limit the spread o

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

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

Abstract: This paper investigates the impacts of smoke-free housing policies on compliance, enforcement and smoking behavior. From 2012 to 2014, we studied two affordable housing providers in Canada with comprehensive smoke-free policies: Waterloo Re

This report updates the evidence statements from The Smoke-Free Ontario Scientific Advisory Committee report, Evidence to Guide Action: Comprehensive Tobacco Control in Ontario (2016) (SFO-SAC 2016), with the most recent evidence from systematic lite

Tobacco cessation interventions by healthcare providers have been shown to significantly increase cessation rates. Three surveys were conducted in 2013, 2015 and 2017 to explore the state of tobacco cessation practices and services in the Central Wes

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

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

Tobacco control mass media campaigns are a key element of comprehensive tobacco control strategies. Over the past decade, 94% of Ontario smokers were exposed to tobacco control mass media, general tobacco media stories, or pharmaceutical ads. Exposur

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

The majority of smokers begin smoking in their teens or early twenties. Raising the legal age of access to tobacco to age 21 has the potential to impact positively on future smoking prevalence and health outcomes. This update outlines reasons to cons

Abstract: In 2010, Waterloo Region Housing (Canada) enacted a smoke-free (SF) housing policy that made all new leases in their community-housing portfolio (2722 units) 100 % SF. Existing lease holders were ‘grandfathered’—meaning tenants could still

Research demonstrates that many factors are associated with contraband tobacco use, including: easy access, misconceptions about “legal” purchase of cigarettes from First Nations’ Reserves, insufficient enforcement and penalties, and organized crimin

The Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Monitoring Report finds tobacco use among grade 12 youth remains steady at 6%, but smoking use among young adults remains high. These are some of the findings highlighted in this year’s Strategy Monitoring Report. This

OTRU’s Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Monitoring Report Executive Summary provides a synopsis of the report’s comprehensive review of the progress of the province’s tobacco control initiatives. Related publication: 2014 Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Monit

Abstract Objective To examine the effect of varying levels of comprehensive tobacco control on smoking in a global context. Methods Using data from WHO’s Reports on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, scatter plots were produced to visualise the relat

Abstract Tobacco use causes a tremendous amount of morbidity and mortality globally, with a staggering level of financial costs. In many countries, public health interventions have been able to reduce the prevalence of smoking and the associated burd

The Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy is a comprehensive tobacco control program involving a broad coalition of partners including provincial and local governments, boards of health, voluntary health organizations, hospitals, and universities. This report

OTRU’s Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Monitoring Report Executive Summary provides a synopsis of the report’s comprehensive review of the progress of the province’s tobacco control initiatives. Related publications: 2013 Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Moni

Comprehensive tobacco control includes age-related restrictions on access to tobacco products. These restrictions target young people who, as a group, are vulnerable to smoking initiation. This update reviews youth access provisions by provincial, te

Litigation against the tobacco industry is any attempt to challenge the tobacco industry through judicial process. This update summarizes healthcare cost recovery legislation and litigation against the tobacco industry, by Canadian provincial and ter

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

Abstract This study assesses the impact of an academic detailing quitline promotional outreach program on integration of patient referrals to the quitline by fax in healthcare settings and quitline utilization in Ontario, Canada. The study employed a

Abstract Background: Health policy-making, a complex, multi-factorial process, requires balancing conflicting values. A salient issue is public support for policies; however, one reason for limited impact of public opinion may be misperceptions of po

This formative evaluation study examines the process of implementation of the Youth Engagement Initiative as outlined in the 2010 scopes of service, and identifies facilitators and challenges to this process to inform Initiative improvement and advan

Partners of the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy have made solid progress in implementing a comprehensive approach to achieving vital tobacco control goals. This report presents evaluative information about the activities and results of the Smoke-Free Ont

OTRU’s Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Evaluation Report Executive Summary provides a synposis of the report’s comprehensive review of the progress of the province’s tobacco control initiatives. Related publications: Tobacco Taxes – 2012 Monitoring Updat

This newsletter reports on key findings from a formative evaluation of how the Initiative has been implemented in public health units across the province. Related publications: Evaluation of a Youth Engagement Initiative to Promote Healthy Choices (V

This update explores quitting behaviour and the use of pharmacotherapy and behavioural aids among Saskatchewan smokers aged 15 years and older. It also looks at the involvement of health professionals in delivering cessation services. All data presen

Comprehensive tobacco control includes prohibition of tobacco sales in specific places in order to decrease the physical availability of tobacco products. This Update discusses current legislation in Ontario about where tobacco products can be sold,

Taxation is a policy tool used to increase the retail price of tobacco products in order to decrease their economic accessibility. This update discusses the effect of the introduction of Ontario’s harmonized sales tax on the price of cigarettes in th

Abstract Challenges to evaluating comprehensive complex strategies revolve around addressing comprehensiveness, attribution, and complexity. The latter requires attention to synergies amongst interventions, feedback loops, and other forms of nonlinea

The Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport (MHPS) and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) recently launched an initiative aimed to enhance cessation support to hospital patients with chronic diseases. As a first step, the Ontario Tobac

OTRU’s Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Evaluation Report provides a comprehensive review of the progress of the province’s tobacco control initiatives. Ontario’s investment in the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy is bearing fruit. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act p

OTRU’s Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Evaluation Report Executive Summary provides a synposis of the report’s comprehensive review of the progress of the province’s tobacco control initiatives. Related publications: Prohibition of Tobacco Sales In Speci

Substantial government funding is necessary if tobacco control strategies are to be effective in reducing tobacco related illness and death. This update reviews the status of funding commitments for tobacco control in Ontario and other provincial, te

This update summarizes recent Canadian healthcare cost recovery lawsuits against the tobacco industry and litigation efforts related to contraband. International efforts are also reviewed, particularly those in the US, a global leader in litigation a

Taxation is a policy tool used to increase the retail price of tobacco products in order to decrease their economic accessibility. This update summarizes the amount of tax on cigarettes and roll your own tobacco by provincial, territorial and federal