Technical Report of the Ontario SimSmoke

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, including cigarette taxes, smoke-free air laws, mass media campaigns, marketing restrictions, packaging requirements, cessation treatment programs, and youth access restrictions.

The Ontario SimSmoke model allows for demonstrating how the effect of policies depends on the population composition, the existence of other policies, and the length of time that policies are in effect. In addition, it identifies gaps in surveillance and points to the need for some additional research and evaluation efforts that could further demonstrate the effectiveness of tobacco control strategies and interventions in Ontario.